plutarch's lives vol. 1

THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARYPOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB» ULil>.

EDITED BY

fT. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D.

fE. CAPPS, PH.D., LL.D. tW. H. D. ROUSE, litt.d.

L. A. POST. L.H.D. E. H. WARMINGTON. m.a.. f.b.hist.soc.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

I

PLUTARCH'SLIVES

WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY

BERNADOTTE PERRIN

IN ELEVEN VOLUMES

I

THESEUS AND ROMULUSLYCURGUS AND NUMASOLON AND PUBLICOLA

LONDON

WILLIAM HRINEMANN LTDCAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESSMOMLIX

First Printed 1914

Reprinted 1928, 1948, 1959

Printed in Great Britain

CONTENTSPAOK

PREFATORY NOTB vii

ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THIS EDITION . . ix

TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES .... X

INTRODUCTION xi

THESEUS 1

ROMULUS'

89

COMPARISON OF THESEUS AND ROMULUS 188

LYCURGUS • 203

NUMA 305

COMPARISON OF LYCURGUS AND NUMA 382

SOLON 403

PUBLICOLA 501

COMPARISON OF SOLON AND PUBLICOLA 564

DICTIONARY OF PROPER NAMES 677

PREFATORY NOTE

Agreement between the Sintenis (Teubner^ 1873-

1875) and Bekker (Tauchnitz, 1855-1857) texts of

the Parallel Lives has been taken as the basis for the

text of the present edition. Any preference of one

to the other where they differ, and any departure

from both, have been indicated. All the Lives

included in this volume are contained in the Codex

Seitenstettensis (S), and occasional use has been

made of the collations of that MS. by W. Meyer

(Leipsic, 1890). Since no collations of Codex

Parisinus 1676 (F*), the excellent MS. so closely

related to S, have been accessible to the Editor, its

readings could only be inferred here and there from

the text and notes of Stephanus. No attempt has

been made, naturally, to furnish either a diplomatic

text or a full critical apparatus. The reading which

follows the colon in the critical notes is that of the

Teubner Sintenis, and also, unless otherwise stated

in the note, of the Tauchnitz Bekker.

Tii

PREFATORY NOTE

The translation must speak for itself. Its author,

like Plutarch himself, prays that he may find kindly

readers, and feels reasonably confident of doing so

among those who are able to appreciate the pecu-

liarities of Plutarch's Greek. All the standard trans-

lations of the Lives have, of course, been carefully

compared and utilized.

B. PERRIN.

New Haven, Connectiodt, U.S.A.

Febrvxiryt 1914.

v^

ORDER OF THE PARALLEL LIVES IN THISEDITION IN THE CHRONOLOGICAL SEQaENCE

OF THE GREEK LIVES.

Volume I.

(1) Theseus and Romulus.

Comparison.(2) Lycurgiis and Numa.

Comparison.(3) Solon and Fublioola.

Comparison.

Volume II.

(4) Themistocle.s andCamillus.

(9) Aristides and Cato theElder.

Comparison.(13) Cimon and Lucullus.

Comparison.

VOLUMB III.

(5) Pericles and Fabius Max-imus.

Comparison.(14) Nicias and Crassus.

Comparison.

Volume IV.

(6) Alcibiades and Coriola-

nus.

Comparison.(12) Lysander and Sulla.

Comparison

Volume V.

(16) Agesilaus and Pompey.Comparison.

(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus.

Comparison.

Volume VI.

(22) Dion and Brutus.

Comparison.(7) Timoleon and Aemilius

Paulus.

Comparison,

Volume VII.

(20) Demosthenes and Cicero.

Comparison.(17) Alexander and Julias

Caesar.

Volume VIII.

(15) Sertorius and Eumenes.

Comparison.(18) Phocion and CaLo the

Younger.

Volume IX.

(21) Demetrius and Antony.Comparison.

(11) Pyrrhus and Caius Mariua.

Volume X.

(19) Agis and Cleomeues, andTiberius and CaiusGracchus.

Comparison.(10) Philopoemen and FUm-

ininus.

Comparison.

Volume XL(23) Aratus.

(24) Artaxerxea.

(25) Galba.

(26) Otho.

IX

THE TRADITIONAL ORDER OF THEPARALLEL LIVES.

(1) Theseus and Romulus,

(2) Lycurgus and Numa.

(3) Solon and Publicola.

(4) Themistocles and Camillus.

(5) Pericles and Fabius Maximus.

(6) Alcibiades and Coriolanus.

(7) Timoleon and Aemilius Paulus.

(8) Pelopidas and Marcellus.

(9) Aristides and Cato the Elder.

(10) Philopoemen and Flamininus.

(11) Pyrrhus and Caius Marius.

(12) Lysander and Sulla.

(l.S) Cimon and Lucullus.

(14) Nicias and Crassus.

(15) Sertorius and Eumenes.

(16) Agesilaus and Pompey.

(17) Alexander and Julius Caesar.

(18) Phocion and Cato the Younger.

(19) Agis and Cleomenes, and Tiberius and Caius

Gracchus.

(20) Demosthenes and Cicero.

21) Demetrius and Antony.

(22) Dion and Brutus.

(23) Aratus.

(24) Artaxerxes.

(25) Galba.

(26) Otho.

INTRODUCTION

Plutarch's Life and Writings

Plutarch was born at Chaeroneia, a small town onthe northern confines of Boeotia^ about the middleof the first century of our era, and toward the close

of the reign of the emperor Claudius. He belongedto a family of ample means and generous culture,and was liberally educated. He studied at Athens,the most attractive university town in his day for

both Greeks and Romans, and was a disciple of

Ammonius of Lamptrae, a Peripatetic philosopher

deeply versed in religious lore. Returning to his

native town, he was soon called upon to representit as deputy to the Roman governor of the provinceof Greece. That he travelled extensively over

Greece, visited Asia Minor, Egypt, and Italy, andresided much at Rome, may be inferred from his

writings, as most that is known about him must beinferred. At Rome, he was in charge of certain

public business, so that he had not time to learn

thoroughly the Latin language, as he himself con-

fesses in the introduction to his Demosthenes. ButGreek was the language of literary and polite

xi

INTRODUCTION

society at Rome, and cultivated Greeks, especially

philosophers, were welcome there. As a Greek

philosopher, and a populariser of Platonism, Plutarch

read and lectured at Rome, much as he did in the

small but select circle of his intimates and friends at

home. He made and retained a large acquaintancewith the prominent Romans of his day, and was

familiar with the questions which most occupied the

minds of men at the political centre of the world.

Then, after Athenian education, generous travels,

diplomatic missions, modest literary celebrity, and

considerable residence at Rome, he seems to have

retired to his little country home, with his books,

notes, lectures, essays, and gentle philosophy, and

there, in a leisure not all too much encroached uponby local magistracies and certain religious offices at

neighbouring Delphi, to have elaborated the sketches

of his lectures and essays, which have come down to

us under the collective name of Morals, and to have

composed the work on which his fame chiefly rests,—the Parallel Lives of Greeks and Rajnans. He lived

through the reigns Nero, Domitian, and Trajan, and,

leaving the world as he did about 120 a.d., musthave rejoiced at the accession of Hadrian to the

imperial throne. His world had grown steadilybetter while he lived, and was now to enjoy its

second golden age.The Morals were composed, for the greater part,

before the Lives, and are an invaluable prelude to

and commentary on them^ especially if we would

xii

INTRODUCTION

know just what manner of man the author of the

Lives was. They tell us, as the Lives do not," of the

points of view, moral and religious, from which he

contemplated not this man's life or the other's, but

the whole life of men. Nor is it too much to affirm

that of the two halves of Plutarch's writings, of

his Lives and his Morals, each constitutes a

complement of the other ; the one setting forth

to us, and, so far as this was possible, from

ideal points of view, what the ancient world

had accomplished in the world of action, and the other

what, in like manner, it had aimed at and accom-

plished in the world of thought" (Trench, Plutarch,

p. 90). But even in the Lives, Plutarch is far moremoralist than historian.

Greece, after passing under Roman sway, lost

sight gradually of her great men of action, andcontented herself with the glories of her men of

thought. Here surely the dominant Romans could

not vie with her. It was to prove that the moreremote past of Greece could show its lawgivers,

commanders, statesmen, patriots, and orators, as well

as the nearer and therefore more impressive past of

Rome, that the Parallel Lives were written. With

Scipio Africanus the Elder, the greatest man of

Rome, Plutarch matched Epaminondas, the greatestman of Greece. This pair, or "book," of Lives is

unfortunately lost. With Camillus, who saved Romefrom the Gauls, he matched Themistocles, who saved

Athens from the Persians. Then followed, as nearly

xiii

INTRODUCTION

as the order can be determined—for the order of the

Lives in our collection is not the original one, the

Cimon and Lucullus, the Lycurgus and Numa, the

Demosthenes and Cicero, the Pelopidas and MaixelliLs,

the Lysander and Sulla, the Pkilopoemen and Flamininus,

the Pericles and Fabius Maximus, the Aristides and

Cato Major, and thirteen other pairs. Eighteen of

the twenty-two pairs which have come down to us,

close with a formal comparison of the two careers

and characters. This is often fanciful and forced,

abounds in contrasts rather than resemblances, and

is seldom of any special historical value, althoughit often has great literary charm. There are also

four single Lives in our collection, Artaxerxes, Arattis,

Galba, and Otho, and we get traces of twelve morethat are now lost. One of the pairs is a double

one, where, to match the two Gracchi, Plutarch

selects the two reforming Spartan kings, Agis and

Cleomenes. We have in all, therefore, fifty Lives

by Plutarch.

Manuscripts, Editions, Translations, Etc.

A full account of the MSS. of Plutarch must be

sought in the critical editions of the Lives by Sintenis

and Bekker. It will be sufficient to speak here of six.

The oldest and, with one exception, the most

authoritative MS., is the Codex Sangermanensis (S*),

XIV

INTRODUCTION

in the library of the monastery of St. Germaindes-

Pr^s, in the French Department of the Loire. It is a

parchment MS. of the Xth century, but unfortunatelycontains only fifteen of the Lives : Antony (last part),

Pyrrhus-Marius, Aratus, Artaxerxes, Agis and Cleo-

menes, Tiberius and Caius Gracchus, Lycurgus-Numa,

Lysander-Sulla, and Agesilaiis-Pompey.The second oldest MS., and on the whole the most

authoritative, is the Codex Seitenstettensis (S),

belonging to the monastery of Seitenstetten, near

Waidhofen, in Lower Austria. It is a parchmentMS. of the Xlth century, containing sixteen Lives :

Lycurgus-Numa, Solon- Publicola, Aristides-Cato the

elder, Themistocles-Camillus, Cimon-Lucullus, Peri-

cles-Fabius Maximus, Nicias-Crassus, and Agesilaus-

Pompey. There are large deficiencies in the Lycurgus,

Fabius, Nicias, and Crassus. It is only since 1870,

and the edition of the Aristides and Cato by Hercher,that this MS. has been known to be not only the

second oldest, but the best extant MS. of Plutarch.

It has not been used in any special editions of Lives

included in this first volume, but its readings are

collected in the dissertation of W. Meyer, De codice

Plutarcheo Seitenstettensi eiusque asseclisj Letpsic, 1890.

Three parchment MSS. in the Biblioth^queNationale of Paris, No. 1671 (A), of the Xlllth

century, containing all the Morals and Lives, No. 1672

(C), also of the Xlllth century, containing all the

Lives, and No. 1674 (D), of the XVIth century

containing all the Lives, are of supreme importance.

XV

INTRODUCTION

and on these the texts of Sintenis and Bekker

mainly rest. Of these three MSS., A and D seem to

be more closely related to 8% while C partakes of

the characters both of S'^ and S, and is often cor-

rective of A and D.

Another MS. in the same library, No. 1676 (F*),

of the XVth century, has only more recently been

recognized as the chief authority of Stephanus, andas partaking of the character of S. Its readings have

not been fully published as yet, but have been used

in editing the texts of special Lives, none of which,

however, are included in this first volume.

Other MSS. will be mentioned as they come into

impoi-tance for the text of special Lives.

The ediiio princeps of the Parallel Lives, 1517,"Florentiae, in aedibus Philippi Juntae," was based

on Florentine MSS. of relatively inferior value.

Tlie Aldine edition of the Parallel Lives, 1519,

"Venetiis, in aedibus Aldi et Andreae soceri," wasbased on Venetian MSS., which were of greaterexcellence than the Florentine, some of them

retaining their importance to the present day.The first edition of the complete works of Plutarch,

1572, Paris, 13 voU. 8vo,was edited by Henri Etienne

(Stephanus), who improved the text of his pre-decessors with readings of better MSS. unknown to

them, making special use of Codex Parisinus, No. 1676

(F*). The Paris edition of 1624, in two volumes

folio, reproduced the text of Stephanus, and becamethe textus recepius. By its pages (given on the inner

\V1

INTRODUCTION

margin of the text of the present edition) Plutarch

is cited in the Index vocum verborumcpie exquisitioruvi

in Plularcho, which closes Wyttenbach's great edition

of the Morals (Oxford, 1830).Critical and annotated editions of all the works of

Plutarch by Reiske (Leipsic, 1774-82, 12 voll. 8vo),

and of the Parallel Lives by Coraes (Paris, 1809-14,

6 voll. 8vo), were followed by the great critical

edition of the Parallel Lives by Sintenis (Leipsic,

1839-46, 4 voll. 8vo), which still remains the

standard edition (Sintenis^). A minor edition of this

work appeared in the Biblioiheca Teubneriana (Leipsic,

1852-55, 5 voll. 12mo, re-issued without much

change in 1873-75). It shows more boldness in the

correction of obvious error, and greater freedom in

the admission of conjecture, than the major edition,

but is the most generally accepted text of the Lives

(Sintenis^). The Tauchnitz text, edited by ImmanuelBekker (Leipdc, 1855-57, 5 voll. 8vo), does not

differ very much from the first minor edition of

Sintenis, but has a convenient division of the

chapters into sections, which has been adopted in

the present text.

In 1559 appeared the French version of the Parallel

Lives by Jacques Amyot, the earliest French classic

recognized by the French Academy. Amyot con-

sulted many MSS. unknown to the authors of the

Juntine and Aldine editions, and his work has an

independent philological value, aside from its great

literary merits.

XVIJ

INTRODUCTION

It was from Amyot's version, rather than from the

original Greek, that Sir Thomas North made his

version of the Lives (1579), a translation by the

earliest master of great English prose from the

earliest master of great French prose. Shakespeareused this version in his Coriolanus, Julius Caesar, and

Antony and Cleopatra. It was the Elizabethan

Plutarch.

In Queen Anne's time, Dryden was "prevailed

upon by his necessities" to head a company of

translators of the Lives, and the version was called

by his name (1683), although he furnished merelythe Preface and the Life of Plutarch. Notwith-

standing all the failings of this motley version, it

supplanted that of North.

The first scholar's translation of the Lives from the

original Greek into English, by the brothers Johnand William Langhorne, was published in 1770, andwas the version most current from that time down to

1850. Compared with North's spirited version, it is

rather dull and pedantic, although much moreaccurate.

Arthur Hugh Clough's revision of the so-called

Dryden translation, a work which occupied this

gifted scholar and poet for some seven years, was

published in five volumes by Little, Brown & Co., of

Boston, in 1859, and reprinted in one large octavo

volume in 1876 and 1880. It is probably the best

extant English version of all the Lives.

The best monograph on Plutarch iu English is

xviii

INTRODUCTION

bhat of Archbishop Trench, which was published bythe Messrs. Macmillan & Co. in 1873, and in a

second edition in 1874. Ralph Waldo Emerson had

already furnished a characteristic essay on Plutarch

as an Introduction to Goodwin's revision of the

translation of the Morals "by several hands

"

(Boston, Little, Brown & Co., 1870, reprinted, 1889).To the edition of North's translation of the Lives in

the " Tudor Translations"

(London, David Nutt^

1895-96), the Rt. Hon. George Wyndham furnished

an Introduction of superlative power and excellence.

Professor Mahaffy's chapters on Plutarch in his Greek

World under Roman Sway (Macmillan & Co., 1890,

pp. 291-350 =rAe Silver Age of the Greek World,

Chicago and London, 1906, pp. 339-402) abound in

discriminating and su<Tgestive appreciations. Finally^

mention may be made of Plutai'clis Themistocles and

AristideSj newly translated, with Introduction and

Notes, by Bernadotte Perrin, New York, Charles

Scribner's Sons, 190L

XIX

PLUTARCH'S PARALLELLIVES

THESEUS

nAOYTAPXOY BIOI OAPAAAHAOI

eH2EY2

I. "ficTTre/o iv ra?? yeoyypa<j>iaL<;, &> '^6<t(ti€ Paris

XevcKLcoVi ol laropiKol ra 8ia(f)6vyovTa tî^ a 1624^^

ryvcjatv avTMV rot? ia")(^dTOi,<; fiipeai tS)v ttlvcl- ^K(ov TTLeôvvre^, alria^^ irapaypdiôvarLv on "TaK iireKeiva 6lve<^ dvvBpot Kal OrjpicoBeL^^^ rj "7rrfKo<;

aiSvr}<;^' fj

" HkvOckov Kpvo^"

77

**

7reXayo<; ireirr}-

709," oi;tq)? epol irepl rrjv tmv piwv rcov irapaX-

\riX,(ov ypa(f)7]v, tov i(j)iKT0V el/coTi Xoyo) Kal ^dai-

fjLOv IcTTOpia Trpajfidrcov eôpêvrj '^povov BieXOovrt,

irepl rcov dvcoripco KaX(a<; €t%6i/ elirelv "Ta 5*

iireKeiva reparcoBr) Kal rpaycKO, Troirjral Kal

fiv6oypd(f)OL vepbovTai, Kal ovKer'€')(€L

ttIo-tip

2 ovBe aa<f>rjveLavr iirel Be tov irepl AvKovpyovTOV vojJLoOeTOV Kal Nofid tov fia(T(Xeco<; XoyoveKBovTe^y iBoKOVfiev ovk av dXoyco^; T(p 'PwyLtuXft)

TTpoaavajStjvatf ttXtjctlov tcov ')(p6vci)v avTov rÎcTTopLa yeyovoTeîy o-kottovvtc Be pboi

* alrlas Amyot, Stephanus, Coraes, Sintenis' with C;Bekker and Sinteuis^ have ivlois {explaining some by saying).

^

LUTARCH'S PARALLEL LIVES

THESEUS

I. Just as geographers, O Socius Senecio,^ crowdon to the outer edges of their maps the parts of theearth which elude their knowledge, with explanatorynotes that " What lies beyond is sandy desert withoutwater and full of wild beasts/' or " blind marsh/' or

'Scythian cold," or "frozen sea/* so in the writingof my Parallel Lives, now that I have traversed those

periods of time which are accessible to probablereasoning and which afford basis for a history dealingwith facts, I might well say of the earlier periods :

" What lies beyond is full of marvels and unreality,a land of poets and fabulists, of doubt and ob-

scurity." But after publishing my account of

Lycurgus the lawgiver and Numa the king, I thought1 might not unreasonably go back still farther to

Romulus, now that my history had brought me nearhis times. And as I asked myself,

^ One of the many friends whom Plutarch made during his

residence at Rome. He was four times consul between the

years 98 and 107 A.D. Plutarch addresses him also at the

opening of the Demosthenes and the Dion^ thus dedicating to

him these " books."

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ToL^Se (jxiyri (kut Ala'vvKov) t[<; ^v/nîjcrerai;^riv* aifTtrdôi) r^Se; Tt9 (f>€piyyvo<;;

*

i<j)aLV€TO TOV TOiV KOXOJV Kal aOlSi/JLCDV olKiaTTJV

'AOrjvcjv avTicTTrjaat Kal TrapaâXetv T(p irarpl3 T^9 avLKTiTOV Kal /jieydXoBoôv ^VwfirjSt etr) fiev

ovv r/jiiLV eKKaOaipo/jievov \6yq) to fivOcjê^; vira-

Kovaai Kal Xaêlv laropia^; oyîVt oirov 8* av

avdaBa)<; rov iriOavov 7rept<j>povj Kal firj B6)(^Tjrat,

rrjv 7r/}09 to etVo? /jll^lv, evyvco/xovcov aKpoaroivBerjaofieda Kal Trpao)? ttjv apâioXoyiav irpoahe-

'XpfJLevayv.

II. 'E8o«:et 5* ovv 6 Sriaem rep *Vo)/j,v\(p Kara7roWa<; evap/jLorreiv o/JLOiOTrjTa^' d/i(l)(o /llcv yap

^

aveyyvo) Kal (TKOtIo) yevofievoi Boâv eaôv ck

OeSiv yeyovevaiy

"AyLfcô) 8* al'XîirjTa, to ye Br) Kal XBpuev airavTeî,

Kal fieTOL TOV BvvaTov to avveTov e'XpVTe^. iroKjeoiv

Be T(bv eTrKfyaveaTaTCov 6 puev eKTiae ttjv ^Vcafirjv,

6 Be avvcpKLcre Ta9 Âdrjva^' apirayr] Be yvvaiKOiv2 eKaT€p(p TTpoceaTiv. ovBcTepo^; Be BvaTvîav irepl

TO, OLKeta Kal vepbea-tv eyyevrj Bie(j)vy€v, aXXa Kal

T€XeL'Tcoj'T€9 a/j.(p6T€poi XiyoPTai Tol<i eavTcov

TTpocTKpovcrai, iroXiTai'^, ec Tt t(ov ^KtaTa Tpayt-

1 Seven against ThebeSf 435, rot^St <pwrl vffiirf— ris

a Ibid. 395 f.

rlv* aPTiToiêis ry8e ; ris Upolrov -kvK&v

K\i^dpwv \v6fVTccv KpocroTilv (pfpeyyvoi;

•Coraes, Bekker, and Cobet, w ith C, after Reiske ;

&JU0W /xitf.

THESEUS, I. 2-II. 2

" With such a warrior" (as Aeschylus says) 'Svho will

dare to fight ?"

"Whom shall I set against him? Who is com-

petent ?"

it seemed to me that I must make the founder

of lovely and famous Athens the counterpart and

parallel to the father of invincible and gloriousRome. May I therefore succeed in purifying Fable,

making her submit to reason and take on the sem-

blance of History. But where she obstinately dis-

dains to make herself credible, and refuses to admit

any element of probability, I shall pray for kindly

readers, and such as receive with indulgence the

tales of antiquity.II. It seemed to me, then, that many resemblances

made Theseus a fit parallel to Romulus. For both

were of uncertain and obscure parentage, and gotthe reputation of descent from gods ;

xV" Both were also warriors, as surely the whole world

knoweth,''*

and with their strength, combined sagacity. Of the

world's two most illustrious cities, moreover, Romeand Athens, Romulus founded the one, and Theseus

made a metropolis of the other, and each resorted to

the rape of women. Besides, neither escapeddomestic misfortunes and the resentful anger of kin-

dred, but even in their last days both are said to

liave come into colUsion with their own fellow-citizens,

^ niad vii. 281, of Aias Telamon and Hector.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

/cw? elprjcrOai BoKOvvrav 0(^6X09 i<TTt> Trpoî aX^J-

Oetav.

III. 0770-60)9 TO fiev warpwov yevo<; eh ^^peÔea 2

Kol Tov Sk

fir}Tpa)(p UeXoTTiBrj^; r}v, Tleko^lr y^p ov XPV'

ficLTCOv TrXrjdeL /laXXov ^ TralSayv fiiyi,(7T0v la^^vaeTMV iv UeXoTTOvvija-fp l3aai\.€Ci}v, TroXXa? fi€v

€K86fxevo<; 6vyaTepa<; to?9 apLcrTOL<i, ttoWov^; Be

Tol^ irokeaiv vloix; iyKaTaa7reipa<; dpôvra*;' o)v

ei<; yev6fievo<; Ucrdev'^, 6 S7)aeco<; 7ra7r7ro9, ttoXiv

fiev ov fjLeydXrjv rrjv Tpoi^rjvLcov (pKiae, Boâv Be

fidXiara irdvTcov cw9 CLvrjp Xoyio^ iv T019 rore koI

2 ao<pd)TaTOfi eo-'êv. rjv Be Trj<; <70<f>ia(t)p.oXoyiaf;. koI fjuCav ye tovtcov

eKeiVT)v Xeyovai lli,T6eco<; elvav,

Mfo-^09 S' dvBpl (j>lX(p elprjfievo^; ap/ciotX6ao(f>o^

eipi]KeVy 6 8'lEiupt,7rLBr]<if rov 'liriroXvrov dyvov

UirOeco^; irauBeu/ia TrpoaeLirdov, ificpaivet rrjv irepl

rov Utrdia Boâv,3 Klyel Be iraiBcov Beofievcp rrjv HvdCav dveXeiv

Xt /ovat rov dpuXovfievov XPV^M'^^* BiaKeXevo-

fievTjv firjBe/iia yuvat/cl avyyeveaOai irplv eXOeZv

et9 *AO^va<;, ov irdvv Bk rovro (ppdêcv evBi]X(o<;

THESEUS, II. 2-III. 3

if there is any aid to the truth in what seems to

have been told with the least poetic exaggeration.III. The lineage of Theseus^ on the father's side,

goes back to Erechtheus and the first children of the

soil; on the mother's side, to Pelops. For Pelopswas the strongest of the kings in Peloponnesus

quite as much on account of the number of his

children as the amount of his wealth. He gave

many daughters in marriage to men of highest rank,and scattered many sons among the cities as their

rulers. One of these, named Pittheus, the grand-father of Theseus, founded the little city of Troezen,and had the highest repute as a man versed in the

lore of his times and of the greatest wisdom. Nowthe wisdom of that day had some such form andforce as that for which Hesiod was famous, especiallyin the sententious maxims of his " Works and Days."One of these maxims is ascribed to Pittheus,

namely :—

^ "Payment pledged to a man who is dear must be

ample and certain." ^

X At any rate, this is what Aristotle the philosopher

'M^says,2 and Euripides,^ when he has Hippolytus

addressed as "nursling of the pure and holy Pit-

theus," shows what the world thought of Pittheus.

Now Aegeus, king of Athens, desiring to have

children, is said to have received from the Pythianpriestess the celebrated oracle in which she bade himto have intercourse with no woman until he came to

Athens. But Aegeus thought the words of thecommand somewhat obscure, and therefore turned

* Verse 370.'Fragment 556. *

Hippolytus^ 11.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

hoKovaav 66ev eh Tpoi^r/va irapeXOcbv av€Koi-

vovTo YiirOel ttjv tov deov <po)vr)v ovtw; ^')(pv(jav'

*AaKov TOV 7rpov')(pvTa iroha, /jbi'ya (jiiprare

\aMV,

pLTf Xu(7i79 Trplv Brjfiov ÂOrjvicov elaai^LKeadar

4 a BrjXov on vorjaa^ 6 Htrêv?, eireiaev avrov t)

BtrjTrdrriae rf} AWpa (Tvyyevia-Oai. crvve\6cov 8e

Kol yvov<; i/c6ivo<; on 777 UcrOiciXi dvyarpl crvy-

yeyove, kuI Kvecv avryv v7rovo7]aa<;, airiXiTre î(f>o^

Kol TriBiXa fcpvyjra^ viro irerpav fMeyaXrjVf eVro?

€')(pv<Tav KoiXoTTjra avfjifiirpax: i/juTrepiXa/JL^dvov-

5 (rav TO, Keifieva. <f)pd<Ta<; Be 7r/jo9 fiovrjv €K€Lvr)v,

KOL BLaKeXeva-dfievoî av vlo<; ef avrov yevTjTai,

KoX Xa^cov dvBpo<; rjXLKiav BvvaTO^ y rrju Trerpav

dvaaTYjcrai kol v(J)€X€lv to. KaraXetÔevTa, Trifi-

nreiv 7r/?o? avrov eôvra ravra /JLy]Bevb<; elBoro^;,

dXX* 0)9 evean /judXio-ra Xavddvovra irdvra^

(l(T')(vp(b<; yap iBeBoLfcei rov<; UaXXavrlBafit ^ttc-

ffovXevovra^ avra> KaX Bid rrjv aTraiBlav Kara-

<}>povovvra<;* rjaav Bk irevrrfKOvra iralBe^ €k

TidXXavro<^ yeyovore^), drrrjet,

lY. HeKova-rjf; Be rrj<; A.Wpa'^ vlov, ol fiev ev6v<;

ovo/jiaaOrjvai Srja-ea Xeyovai Bid rrjv rcov yvcopi-

a/xdrcov Oeaiv, 01 Be varepov ÂOrjvrjai iralBa

de/jievov rod Alyea)^ avrov. Tp€(f)6jjL6vop Bk vtto

THESEUS, III. 3-iv. i

aside to Troezen and communicated to Pittheus the

words of the god, which ran as follows :—

''Loose not the wine-skin's jutting neck, greatN/ chief of the people,

^ Until thou shalt have come once more to the city of

Athens." i

This dark saying Pittheus apparently understood,and persuaded him, or beguiled him, to have inter-

course with his daughter Aethra. Aegeus did so, andthen learning that it was the daughter of Pittheus

with whom he had consorted, and suspecting that

she was with child by him, he left a sword and a

pair of sandals hidden under a great rock, which hada hollow in it just large enough to receive these

objects. He told the princess alone about this, andbade her, if a son should be born to her from him,and if, when he came to man's estate, he should beable to lift up the rock and take away what had beenleft under it, to send that son to him with the

tokens, in all secrecy, and concealing his journey as

much as possible from everybody ;for he was

mightily in fear of the sons of Pallas,^ who were

plotting against him, and who despised him onaccount of his childlessness ; and they were fifty in

number, these sons of Pallas. Then he went away.IV. When Aethra gave birth to a son, he was at

once named Theseus, as some say, because tlie

tokens for his recognition had been placed^ in hiding ;

but others say that it was afterwards at Athens, when

Aegeus acknowledged^ him as his son. He was reared

1 Cf. Euripides, Medea, 674, 676 (KirchhoflO.2 His brother.^ It is impossible to reproduce in English the play on the

Greek words.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tov n«Têft)9 i-KLa-Tdrrjv e'X^Lv koI TratSayoyybv

ovofia KovviSav, o5 f^^XP^ ^^^ *A6)jvaL0L fMia

Trporepov '^fJiipa rwv Srjo-eiojv Kpiov ivayiôvo-i,

fjLefjLV7)/jL€voi Koi Ti/JL0JVT6<: TToXv Bi/catorepov rj

XtXavLcova rificocn koI TiappdonoVi clkovcov ©17-

o"ea)9 ypa(j>6L<; kol TrXacrra? yevo/xivov^,

V. "Eôu? Be 6pto<; ere t6t€ Tov rr}? KOfirj^t rfkOe fiev eh AeXcjyov^

6 0//<r6U9, Kol Toirov dir avrov rrjv ©rjaecav gtl

vvv ovofidêaOai, Xiyovaiv, eKeiparo he Tri<:; Keâ-

X,?}? TCL TTpocrdev fxorov, a>a7rep "Oyu-rypo? ec^r? tou?

"AâvTu^;' koi tovto Trj<; Kovpd<; to yevo<; S')jaT)U

oovo/jidadrj 81 i/celvov.

2 01 Be "Affavrei; iKeipavro TrpSyrot, tov rpoirov

TovTov ov^ VTT ÂpdjScov BiBa'xjdivTeî, to? evLot,

vofjbiôvcnv, ovBe Mucoi/? t^rfkdicravTe^, dXk^ ovre^

'jroXejjLLKol KoX dyêpua'XpLy kol fidXicna Brj irdvTwv

eh %€ipa9 oodetcrOac roh ivavTLoif; /jbefjLaOrjKore^t

o)? jiapTvpel KoX 'A/3%tXo%09 iv tovtol^'

3 Ov Toi TToXX* €7rl roâ ravvaaerai, ovBe 3

OajbLeial

aiêvBovat, evr av Brj jlumXov "Aprj*; avvdyrf

iv TreBiO), îêcov Be iroXvarovov eo-aerac epyov

TavTT]^ yap /celvoi Balfiovh elai fid^fj^

Beairorat EiV0ola<; BovpiKXvToL

10

*,THESEUS, IV. i-v. 3

y Pittheus, as they say, and had an overseer and

tutor named Connidas. To this man, even down to

the present time, the Athenians sacrifice a ram on

the day before the festival of Theseus, rememberinghim and honouring him with far greater justice than

they honour Silanio and Parrhasius, who merelypainted and moulded likenesses of Theseus.

V. Since it was still a custom at that time for

youth who were coming of age to go to Delphi andsacrifice some oftheir hair to the god, Theseus went to

Delphi for tliis purpose, and they say there is a placethere which still to this day is called the Theseia

Vfrom

him. But he sheared only the fore part of his

head, just as Homer ^ said the Abantes did, and this

kind of tonsure was called Theseis after him.

Now the Abantes were the first to cut their hair

in this manner, not under instruction from the

Arabians, as some suppose, nor yet in emulation of

the Mysians, but because they were war-like menand close fighters, who had learned beyond all othermen to force their way into close quarters with their

enemies. Archilochus is witness to this in the fol-

/ lowing words :—

" Not many bows indeed will be stretched tight, nor

frequent slingsBe whirled, when Ares joins men in the moil of

war

Upon the plain, but swords will do their mournfulwork ;

For this is the warfare wherein those men are

expertWho lord it over Euboea and are famous with the

spear."2

1Iliad, ii. 642. »

Bergk, Poet. Lyr. Or.\ ii. p. 383.

II

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 oTTft)? ovv fiT) irape'xpiev e/e rcop rpi)(Syv avri-

XTj-yjnv rot? irokefJiioL^ aireKelpavTO. rovro B^

d/jbiXei Kol AXeâvSpov rov âKcSova ivvorj-

aavrd <j)aac Trpoardâi, toI<; arpaTr)yoL<; ^vpeivTO, ykveia t5)V âKehovcov, (B9 Xaffrjv ravTTjv iv

Tai? [xd'Xât<i ovcrav rrpox^vpoTdrrjv.VI. Tov fiev ovv dXXov 'x^povov e/cpvirrev AWpa

rrjv dXrjdivrjv rov Srjcreax; yiveatv r)v he Xoyo^viTo TOV IltTêft)? StaBoOeh «? ex Uoo-eiBcovof;

TeKVwdeiTj. UoaeiBcova yap Tpoiîjvioi aeôvrat

Btaêp6vT(o^y fcal Oeo*; 0UT09 ia-Tiv avrol^ iroXiov-

X^^» ^ f^^^ fcapTTOdv dirdpôvrat Kal Tplatvav2 iiTLarjfiov exovcn rod vofiia/jLarof;. eVel Be p,etpd-

Ktov wVy dfJLa TTJ TOV adijiaTO^ P^/^JJ Biecpaivev

dXKr)v Koi (f)povr)/jLa jxeTCb vov koX avveaeoo^;

êâiov, ouTO)? avTov rj AWpa tt/jo? ttjv ireTpav

TTpoaayayova-a, Kal ^pdaaaa irepl rr}? yevea-ecoî

TdXr]de<;, eKeXevcrev vcpeXeiv to, irarpwa avfiffoXa3 Kal irXelv eh ÂOriva^. 6 Be ttjv pêv ireTpav

vireBv Kal paBicoî dvicoae, irXelv Be direyvo),

Kalirep ovar]<; da(j)aXeLa<; Kal Beo/ievcop tov t€

irdirTTOV Kal t?}? /at/t/oo?. x^Xcttov yap r)v ire^jj

iropeveadai Tr)V eh 'A^Tî/a? oBov, ovBev puepo^

KaOapov ovBe dKivBvvov viro Xtjcttcov Kal Ka-

Kovpywv eôvaav,4 'O yap Br) p(^/3oyo9 eKelvo^ fjveyKev dvOpco'7rov(;

Xîpo^v fiev epyoL<^ Kal iroBcop Td^âL Kal awpdTOJv

pcofiati;, Q)9 €0CK€V, virepcpveLf; Kal dKap-dTov^;,

7r/309 ovBev Be ttj (ftvaec p^ptw/i.ei'OL'? iTneiKe^; ovBe

a}êXi/jLov, dXX' v^pei t€ x^lpovTa^ vTreprjcpavw,

Kal diroXavovTa^ tt)? Bvvdfi€(i)<; wpLOTrjTL Kal

TTiKpta, Kal T(p KpaTelv re Kal îdêaOai, Ka\

\2

THESEUS, V. 4-vi. 4

Tlierefore, in order that they might not give their

enemies a hold by their hair, they cut it off. AndAlexander of Macedon doubtless understood this

^when, as they say, he ordered his generals to have

the beards of their Macedonians shaved, since these

afforded the readiest hold in battle.

VI. During the rest of the time, then, Aethra

kept his true birth concealed from Theseus, and a

report was spread abroad by Pittheus that he was

begotten by Poseidon. For Poseidon is highly hon-oured by the people of Troezen, and he is the

patron god of their city ; to him they offer first fruits

in sacrifice, and they have his trident as an emblemon their coinage. But when, in his young manhood,Theseus displayed, along with his vigour of body,

prowess also, and a firm spirit united with intelli-

gence and sagacity, then Aethra brought him to the

rock, told him the truth about his birth, and badehim take away his father's tokens and go by sea to

Athens. Theseus put his shoulder to the rock and

easily raised it up, but he refused to make his

journey by sea, although safety lay in that course,and his grandfather and his mother begged him to

take it. For it was difficult to make the journey to

Athens by land, since no part of it was clear nor

yet without peril from robbers and miscreants.

For verily that age produced men who, in work ot

hand and speed of foot and vigour of body, were

extraordinary and indefatigable, but they appliedtheir powers to nothing that was fitting or useful.

Nay rather, they exulted in monstrous insolence,and reaped from their strength a harvest of crueltyand bitterness, mastering and forcing and destroying

everything that came in their path. And as for

VOL. r.Tt ^3

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

hia^Beipeiv to TrapaTTLTrrov, alSoo Se koX SiKato^

avvrjv Kol ro taov Kal to îXdvOpwTrov, 0)9

aroXfua rov dBiKeiv Kal (f)6^q) rod dSiKeladat

TOL/? 7roXkov<^ iiraivovvTa^;, ovSev olofJievov<; irpoa-6 rjKeiv roi<; irXiov e'xjsiv hvvafievoi^. tovtcov

*HpaK\7J<; Tov<i fjuev iêKoirre Kal dvypei Trepi'iayv,

ol he XavOdvovre^ eKeivov irapLovTO^ eTrrrjaaovKal dveSvovTO Kal rrrapTj/jLeXovvro raireivd irpdr-rovT6<;. iirel Be 'HpaK\r](; 6Xpf]0'CLTo avjjb(f)opa,

Kal KT€iva<; "I^ltov eh AvBiav dirrjpe Kal avxyoveKel 'X^povov eBovkeve irap Ôpuc^dXTj, Blktjv tov

(povov ravrr^v eViêt? avro), Tore rd /lev AvBmv

TTpdyfjLara ttoWtjv €a')(êv elprjviqv Kal dBecav ev

Be Tot9 rrepl rr}V 'EWdBa rowocî av0i<; e^rjvOrjaavat KaKiai Kal dveppdyrjo-av, ovB€Vo<; TrteôvvroôvBe Kareipyovro<^.

6 'Hi/ ovv okeOpto'^ r) iropeia TOi? ^KOrjvaê

ire^y /SaBlôvcrcv eK YieXoTrovviâov Kal tmv

KaKOvpywv eKaarov e^r}'yovfjLevo<; YlLr6ev<; oirolo'^

€L7j Kal oTTOLa Bp(p7] TTCpl Tov^ fei'01'9, CTTecOe

rov Sr]aea KO/J-iêadai Bid 6a\drrri<;. rov Be

irdXat iJbev, co? eoiKe, Xe\7]06ro)<; BteKaiev rj Boârrjf; 'Hpa/cXeou? dpeTrj<^, Kal TrXeiarov eKeivov

Xojov eZ%€, Kal irpoOvfJboraro^ dKpoarr)<i eylverorcov BtTjyov/jbevcov eKeivov olo^ elrj, fidXicrra Be ra)V

avrov ecopaKormv Kal irpdrrovri Kal Xeyovri7 irpocrrervx/jKoroiV' rore Be rravrdiracriv r)v

<f)avepb^ 7re7rov0ci}<; orrep varepov '^povoi^ ttoXXol^;

(defiiaroKXrjf; eiraOe, Kal elirev co? KadevBeiv avrov

ovK 6Mrj rb MiXridBov rpoiracov ovrco<; eKeivcp

rov 'IlpaKXiov^ Oavfidôvri rrjv dperrjv, Kal

14

\

THESEUS, VI. 4-7

reverence and righteousness, justice and humanity,

they thought that most men praised these qualitiesfor lack of courage to do wTong and for fear of being

wronged, and considered them no concern of menwho were strong enough to get the upper hand.

Some of these creatures Heracles cut off* and

destroyed as he went about, but some escaped his

notice as he passed by, crouching down and shrink-

ing back, and were overlooked in their abjectness.And when Heracles met with calamity and, after the

slaying of Iphitus, removed into Lydia and for a longtime did slave's service there in the house of Omphale,then Lydia indeed obtained great peace and security;but in the regions of Hellas the old villainies burst

forth and broke out anew, there being none to

rebuke and none to restrain them.The journey was therefore a perilous one for

travellers by land from Peloponnesus to Athens, and

Pittheus, by describing each of the miscreants at

length, what sort of a monster he was, and what deedshe wrought upon strangers, tried to persuade Theseusto make his journey by sea. But he, as it would seem,had long since been secretly fired by the gloriousvalour of Heracles, and made the greatest account of

that hero, and was a most eager listener to those

who told what manner of man he was, and above all

to those who had seen him and been present at somedeed or speech of his. And it is altogether plainthat he then experienced what Themistocles manygenerations afterwards experienced, when he said

that he could not sleep for the trophy of Miltiades.^

In like manner Theseus admired the valour of Hera-

cles, until by night his dreams were of the hero's

* Cf. Themistocles^

iii. 3.

»5

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

PVKTcop oveipo^ rjaav at 7rpd^€i<;, Koi fieO* rjfxepav

e^rjyev aurov 6 ^77X09 Kal avTjpeOiê ravra irpaT-

reiv Biavoov/JL€vov.

VII. ÊtvjxO'Vov Be koX j6vov<; KOLvcdVovvre^

ef dve-^cwv oWe?. AXdpa fiev yap rfv Hirêo)?

OvyaTTjpy ^KKKfirjVT) Se AvacBLKrj^;, AvcnhiKr] he

Kal Uirdev^ dSeXcjôl yeyovoTe^ i^ ^linroBaiieia^

KaX ITeXoTTO?. Beivov ovv eTroLeZro xal ov/c dveKTov

eKelvov fjiev eirl tou? 7ravTa')(pv 7rovrjpov Be ovtl Trpocrcfiepcov yvoapi-

(TfjuaTa ireBiXa Kal^L(f>o<; dvai/jLaKTOv, ovk epyoa

ev6v<i dyaOol^ Kal Trpdêcri ']Tape')((ov ejiâvi)

XapaKTTJpa t^9 evyeveia^. tolovtco (f)povi)pbaTt

Kal TOLOVTOLf; Xoyio-fjLo'l^ i^copfirjaev, w? dBiKrjcrcov

puev ovBeva, tou<; Be vTrdpôvra^ îa<i dfivvou-

fievo^.

VIII. Kat TTpMTov [xev iv rfj ^FiircBavpia Uepi-(p'^TTjv, 07rX(p 'x^pco/jbevov KOpvvrj Kal Bid rovro

K.opvv7]T7jv iTTiKaXovfievov, dirTOfjievov avrov Kal

KwXvovra irpodyeiv avp^âXdn' direKTeivev i)a9ei^Be rfj Kopvvri XajSoov oirXov eirotiâaTO Kal BiereXet

)(^pa}/jLevo^, wairep ^WpaKXr}^ r(p Bep/xarc tov

XiovTo<i. eKeiv(£i fiev ovv eViSeif^? ^71^ (popovpevov

TjXiKov TO pieye9o<; dr^piov KpaT/]creiev, ouro<i Be

TTjv Kopvvi-jv eireBeiKwev r]TTrjpêvqv piev vtt avrov,

pier avrov Be dTJTTrjTOV ovaav.

*Ev 8* ^laOpu^ Xlvip TOV imvoKafiTTTi^v wrpoircî

16

THESEUS, VI. 7-viir. 2

achievements, and by day his ardour led him alongand spurred him on in his purpose to achieve the

hke.

VII. And besides, they were kinsmen, being sons

of cousins-german. For Aethra was daughter of

Pittheus, as Alcmene was of Lysidice, and Lysidiceand Pittheus were brother and sister, children of

Hippodameia and Pelops. Accordingly, he thoughtit a dreadful and unendurable thing that his famous

cousin should go out against the wicked every^'hereand purge land and sea of them, while he liimself

ran away from the struggles whicli lay in his path,

disgracing his reputed father ^by journeying like a

fugitive over the sea, and bringing to his real father

as proofs of his birth only sandals and a sword un-

stained with blood, instead of at once offering noble

deeds and achievements as the manifest mark of his

noble birth. In such a spirit and with such thoughtshe set out, determined to do no man any wrong, but

to punish those who offered him violence.

VIII. And so in the first place, in Epidauria, when

Periphetes, who used a club as his weapon and onthis account was called Club-bearer, laid hold of

him and tried to stop his progress, he grappledwith him and slew him. And being pleased v/ith

the club, he took it and made it his weapon andcontinued to use it, just as Heracles did with the

lion's skin. That hero wore the skin to prove how

great a wild beast he had mastered, and so Theseuscarried the club to show that although it had

been vanquished by him, in his own hands it wasinvincible.

On the Isthmus, too, he slew Sinis the Pine-bender

» Cf. chapter vi. 1.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TToWoix; avypet, tovko SiecpOeipev auT09, ov fi€fjL€-

\€Tr)Kcd<; ovS' eWt<Tfxevo^ , eTrthdâ^ Se rrfV aperrjv

on Kol Te'xyi]^ irepieaTi koI yaeXer^? airdar}^.

Tjv Be TG) îvihi KaWi(TTrj koI fieyia-rr) dvydrrjp,

ovofia TiepLyovvrj. ravTTjv tov iraTpo^ dvDpr]-

fxevov (pvyovaav et^rjTei irepdcbv 6 %rjaev^' r)8'

et9 TOTTov cLTrekOovcra Xoxfjurjv eôvra iroWrjv

a-TOiprjv re irkeicrT'qv koX dacpdpayov, dfcaKOK;

irdvv Koi iraLhiKM'^ wairep alaOavofievwv Beo/iipr)

TTpoarevêro jxeO' opKcov, av adoacoaiv avrrjv koI

diroKpvyjrcaaiy firjBeTrore XvfiaveXcrdat fjLijBe Kavareiv,

3 dvafcaXov/uevov Be tov Sr](re(D<; /cat iriaTiv Bi-

B6vT0<; 009 iinfieXijaeTac Ka\a)<i avTrj<; koI ovBev

dBiKYjcreL, TTporjXde' koI tw fiev ®r)ael avyyevo-

fievr) MeXdvLTTTTov ere/ce, Arj'iovel Be rep 'EvpvrouTOV Ot%aXi6a)9 varepov avvw/CTjae, ^rjaeo)^ B6vto<;.

eK Be MeXavLTTTTOv rov &r]cre(o<; yev6/jLevo<; *'10)^09

'Opvvrq> Trj<; et9 ILapiav dTTOiKia^ iJueTe<T)(êv' oOev

'loDîBai^ /cat Îco^lcri irdrpiov Kareo-rr) firjre

aKavOav daâpdyov pLrjTe aroL^rfV Kaieiv, dX\d

aeêadai kuI TijjLav.

IX. *H Be K.pofx.pv(ovLa av<;, fjv âidv irpoa-

(ovofjuaôv, ov (f>avXov rjv OrjpLoVy dXXh pbdî/jLov

Kol ')(aXe'TrQv /cparrjOijvat. Tavrrjv oBov irdpepyov,

0)9 fJLT] BoKoiT) TrdvTa irpof; dvdyKr}v irovelv, vtto-

<7Ta9 dvelXe, kol dp,a rajv fxev dvOpcoircop rots

7rovr)poL<; dfJLVvofievov ol6fievo<; Belv rov dyaOov

irpoacpepeadai, rcov Be Otipiwv Kal TrpoeTrcxst-

povvra Tol<i yevvaioL<i fLuêaOai xal BiaKivBv-

18

I THESEUS, VIII. 2-ix. I

+

in the very manner in which many men had been

destroyed by himself, and he did this without practiceor even acquaintance with the monster's device, but

showing that valour is superior to all device and

practice. Now Sinis had a very beautiful and stately

daughter, named Perigune. This daughter took to

flight when her father was killed, and Theseus wentabout in search of her. But she had gone off into a

place, which abounded greatly in shrubs and rushes

and wild asparagus, and with exceeding innocence

and childish simplicity was supplicating these plants,

as if they understood her, and vowing that if theywould hide and save her, she would never tramplethem down nor bum them. When, however, Theseus

called upon her and gave her a pledge that he wouldtreat her honourably and do her no wrong, she came

forth, and after consorting with Theseus, bore him

Melanippus, and afterwards lived with Deioneus, son

of Eurytus the Oechalian, to whom Theseus gaveher. From Melanippus the son of Theseus, loxus

was born, who took part with Ornytus in leading a

colony into Caria ; whence it is ancestral usage with

the loxids, men and women, not to burn either the

asparagus-thorn or the rush, but to revere andhonour tliem.

IX. Now the Crommyonian sow, which they called

Phaea, was no insignificant creature, but fierce andhard to master. This sow he went out of his way to

encounter and slay, that he might not be thought to

perform all his exploits under compulsion, and at the

same time because he thought that while the brave

man ought to attack villainous men only in self

defence, he should seek occasion to risk his life in

battle with the nobler beasts. However, some say

19

PLUTARCHS LIVES

veveiv, €Vioi Be (fiaai ttjv 4>atai/ \rjcnpiBafêvkadai ryvvalica (povtKjjv koI aKoXaarov, av-

roOi KaroiKOvaav ev K.pofifiv(bvi., avv he eirovofjia-

aOelaav hia rb ?}^09 fcal tov ^lov elra vtto

%r)aew<i airoOavelv.

X. Xfceipcova Be irpo rrj^ Meyapi/cijfi dvecXe

pi'â^ Kara rcov Trerpcov, 009 fiev 6 ttoXi'? X6709Xyarevovra TOv<i irapLovTa'^, ot)9 S' evLoi Xiyovcrip

v^peL KoX Tpv(^^ irpoTeivovra tcu iroBe toI<; êvoL<i

Kol Kekevovra VLTrreiv, elra XaKTiôvra koI avra)-

2 Oovvra vLiTT0VTa<; eU ryv OdXarrav. ol Be Me-

yapoOev avyypacêl^, ofioae rfj (pjjfJLrj âBiôvre^/cal Tft) TToWo) ')(p6v(p, Kara XL/jLoyviBrjp, TroXe-

/JL0VVT€<^, ovre v^piaT7]v ovre Xyaryv yeyovevairov ^Keipcovd <f>aaiv, dXXd \7jara)V jxev KoXaarrjv,

d/yaOodv Be Kal BtKaUov ol/cetov dvBpcjv Kal (f>i\ov.

hlaKov re yap 'F^XXrjvcov oaiciorarov vofiiêcrdai,Kal K.v)(pea ri/ia<; Oecov e-xeiv ^KOi^vrjari, rov

^dXapjivLov, rr]v Be UrjXeoo^; Kal T€Xa/jLa>vo<; dpe-3 r7]V vrr* ovBevo^ dyvoeladaL. ^Keipwva roivuv

K.vxp€(o<i fjLev yeveaOai yapiPpGV, AlaKOv Be irev-

Oepov, TiifXecDî Be Kal TeXa/i(w^'09 irdirrrov, efÊ2vBritBo<^ yeyovoTcov rr}<; '^KeLpwvo^ kol âpi-kXov<; Ovyarpoî. ovkovv eiKo<^ elvai rep KaKiarwT0U9 dpicrrov; eh Koivcovlav yevou<; eXOelv, rd

fieyLdra kcli nixicarara Xajx^dvovra^ Kal Bi-

Bovraî. dXXd ©rjaea (paalv ovx ore ro Trpcorov

e^dBiêv eh ^Kdrjva^, dXX^ varepov ^KXevatvd

re Xa,8eiV Meyapecov exovrcov, wapaKpovcrdpevovAwKXea rov dpvovra, Kal ^Kecpcova diroKrelvai,,

ravra pev ovv e^'^v roiaxna^ dvrtXoyia'i,

20

THESEUS, IX. i-x. 3

that Phaea was a female robber, a woman of mur-

derous and unbridled spirit, who dwelt in Crommyon,was called Sow because of her life and manners,and was afterwards slain by Theseus.

X. He also slew Sciron on the borders of Megara,

by hurling him down the cliffs. Sciron robbed

the passers by, according to the prevalent tradi-

tion ; but as some say, he would insolently and

wantonly thrust out his feet to strangers and bid

them wash them, and then, while they were washingthem, kick them off into the sea. Megarian writers,

V however, taking issue with current report, and, as

^ Simonides ^expresses it,

"waging war with an-

tiquity," say that Sciron was neither a violent mannor a robber, but a chastiser of robbers, and a

kinsman and friend of good and just men. For

Aeacus, they say, is regarded as the most righteousof Hellenes, and Cychreus the Salaminian has divine

honours at Athens, and the virtues of Peleus andTelamon are known to all men. Well, then, Sciron

was a son-in-law of Cychreus, father-in-law of

Aeacus, and grandfather of Peleus and Telamon,who were the sons of Endeis, daughter of Sciron

and Chariclo. It is not likely, then, they say, that

the best of men made family alliances with the

basest, receiving and giving the greatest and mostvaluable pledges. It was not, they say, whenTheseus first journeyed to Athens, but afterwards,that he captured Eleusis from the Megarians, havingcircumvented Diodes its ruler, and slew Sciron.

Such, then, are the contradictions in which thesematters are involved.

*Fragment 193 (Bergk).

31

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XI. Êv Bk Ê\€U(Ttvi KepKvova tov ef 'A/?-

Kahia<i KaTairaXaiaaf; avelXe' koI juui/cpov Tvpo-

eXOoiv Aa/iida-Trjv iv Êpivew^ rov TipoicpovaTqv,

ava'yicdaa<; avrov dinaovv toI^ KkLVTrjpaiv wairepTOV? êvov<; eKelvo^. eTrparre Be ravTU /Mtfjuov-

fi€vo<; TOV 'H/oa/cXea. /cat yap i/celvo^; 0I9 iireôv-

\evero Tp6'TT0i<; d/j,vv6fjLepo<; Tov<i Trpoewixî-

povvra^y eOvae rov Bovaiptv /cal KareTrdXatae

TOV Âvracov Kal rov K.v/cvov KaTe/jLOvofid^rjaeKol TOV Tep/iepov avppi]â^ tyjv K6(j)aXr]v dire-

2 KTeivev.d(j)'

ov Sj] real to TepfiepeLOV tcaKov ovo-

liacrOrjvat, Xiyovar Tratajv jdp, co? eoi/ce, rij

KGcpaXy Tov<; ivTvy)(^dvovTa<; 6 Tip/Mepo^ dircaX-

Xvev. OVTO) Srf Kal S7}(T€v<i KoXdâyv tou9

irovrjpoix; iire^rjXOev, oh /nev eîdôvTO tou9

dXXov^y VTT* ifcetvov KaTaPiatofievov^, iv Be to??

TpoTTOL^ TTf^ eavTMV dBi,KLa<; Ta Bi/cata 7rdcr)(ôvTa<;.

XII. TlpoiovTi Be avTcp Kal yevofxevw KaraTOV K.7](j)oa6v, dvBpe^ eK rov ^vraXiBoov yevovi

diravrrjcravTef; r)crrrdaavTO Trpcoroi,, Kal Beo/xevov

KadapOrjvaL, T0t9 V€VOfjLLa/x6voi<; dyviaavT€<i Kal

p,eLXi')(îa dv(TavT€<; elaTLacrav oXkoi, jJbrjBevo^ irpo-

Tepov avT(p (îXavdpdiirov Ka9' oBov ivTvxovTO<;.

^Hfiepa fiev ovv oyBorj Xeyerai Kpoviov firjvo^,

ov vvv ÊKaTOfiâiojva KaXovac, KareXdelv.

KareXOobv Be et? T7;i^ itoXlv evpe rd re Koiva

Tapa')(^>)^ [xecTTa Kal Bf^ôcppocrvvrji;, Kal rh irepX

2 TOV Alyea Kal tov oIkov IBia vocrovvra, ÎrfBeia

*'Eptvey with CoraSs, after Pausanias, i. 38, 5 : 'Ep/xeif a

correction by Palmeriiis of the MSS. 'Epfj.i6vi^,

22

I THESEUS, XI. i-xii. 2

XI. In Eleiisis, moreover, he out-wrestled Cercyonthe Arcadian and killed him ; and going on a little

farther, at Erineiis, he killed Damastes, surnamed

Procrustes, by compelling him to make his own bodyfit his bed, as he had been wont to do with those of

strangers. And he did this in imitation of Heracles.

For that hero punished those who offered himviolence in the manner in which they had plotted to

serve him, and therefore sacrificed Busiris, wrestled

Antaeus to death, slew Cycnus in single combat, andkilled Termerus by dashing in his skull. It is from

him, indeed, as they say, that the name " Termerianmischief" comes, for Termerus, as it would seem,used to kill those who encountered him by dashinghis head against theirs. Thus Theseus also went on

his way chastising the wicked, who were visited with

the same violence from him which they were visiting

upon others, and suffered justice after the manner of

their own injustice.XII. As he went forward on his journey and

came to the river Cephisus, he was met by men of

the race of the Phytalidae, who greeted him first,

and when he asked to be purified from bloodshed,cleansed him with the customary rites, made pro-

pitiatory sacrifices, and feasted him at their house.

This was the first kindness which he met with on his

journey.It was, then, on the eighth day of the month

Cronius, now called Hecatombaeon, that he is said

to have arrived at Athens. And when he entered

the city, he found public affairs full of confusion and

dissension, and the private affairs of Aegeus and his

household in a distressing condition. For Medea,

i3

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fâp ifc K.opiv6ov (fivyouaa, <f)ap/jidKoi.<i viroo-'Xô/jLivr}

1"779 aT€KVLa<; aTraWdêiv Alyia, (Tvvfjv avrw.

'n'poaia6ojjLiv7] Se Trepl tov Srjaico^; avrrj, rod

Be Aly€(o<; dyvoovvTO<;, 6vto<; Ee Trpea^vripov xal

(poôvfjbivov Trdvra Bid rrjv ardcriv, eTretaev avrbv

0)9 êvov €(TTi(0VTa âpfjLd/coL<; dvekeiv. ekOwv

ovv 6 S7](T6v<; iirl to dpiarov ov/c iEoKifxaê

(j)pd^6LV avTov, oaTi<; eir], TTporepof;, iKeivo) Be

jSovXofievo^; dp^r]V dvevpeae<o, o)?

3 ravTTj Te/JLVQ)V, iBei/cvvev eKeivw. raû Be Korra-

âOoDv 6 Alyev<;y rr)v fiev KvKiKa rod âpfiaKOV

Kare/SaXe, rov Be vlov dvaKpiva^; rjairdêTO, kol

avvayaycbv toxj^ TroXira^ ijvcopiêv, r)Seco<; Seô-

fievov^ Bid TTjv dvBpayaOiav, Xeyerat, Be ri}^

Kvkiico<; Treaovar]^ eK'xyOrjvaL to (^dpfiaKOV ottov

vvv iv AeX^cviO) to TrepicppaKTov eorTiv, evTavOa

yap 6 Aly€v<; (oKet, teal tov *Eip/j,rjv top 7rpo<i eco

rod lepov KoXovaiv eV Aly6a)<i TruXat?.

XIII. Oi Be HaWavTiBac irpoTepov fiev r/XTriôi/

avTol TTjv l3aacXeiav KaOeêiv Atêo)? aTetcvov

reXevTrjcavTO^' eirel Be ©rjaev^ aTreBelxOrj Bid-

Boxo'i, %a\e7raj9 êpovTe<^ el /SaaiXevec fiev Alyevf;

êT09 yev6fM6vo<i TLavBiovi Koi jJLTjBev ^KpexpelBai^

irpoa-^Kcov, fiaaiXevaei S* o Srjo-ev^ rrdXiv eTnjXv^

2 wv Koi êvo^, eU TroXe/iov /caOlaTavTO. kuI

24

THESEUS, XII. 2-xiii. 2

who had fled thither from Corinth, and promised byher sorceries to reUeve Aegeus of his childlessness,

was living with him. She learned about Theseus in

advance, and since Aegeus was ignorant of him, andwas well on in years and afraid of everything because

of the faction in the city, she persuaded him to

entertain Theseus as a stranger guest, and take himoff by poison. Theseus, accordingly, on coming to

the banquet, thought best not to tell in advancewho he was, but wishing to give his father a clue to

the discovery, when the meats were served, he drewhis sword, as if minded to carve v/ith this, and

brought it to the notice of his father, Aegeusspeedily perceived it, dashed down the proffered cupof poison, and after questioning his son, embraced

him, and formally recognized him before an assemblyof the citizens, who received him gladly because of

his manly valour. And it is said that as the cupfell, the poison was spilled where now is the enclo-

sure in the Delphinium,^ for that is where the houseof Aegeus stood, and the Hermes to the east of the

sanctuary is called the Hermes at Aegeus's gate.XIII. Now the sons of Pallas had before this

themselves hoped to gain possession of the kingdomwhen Aegeus died childless. But when Theseus wasdeclared successor to the throne, exasperated that

Aegeus should be king although he was only an

adopted son of Pandion and in no way related to the

family of Erechtheus, and again that Theseus should

be prospective king although he was an immigrantand a stranger, they went to war. And dividing

^ The site of this sanctuary of the Delphinian Apollo is

conjectured to have been somewhere to the east of the

Olympieum,

«5

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

SieXovre^ eavrov^ oi fxev i/jLcpavoyf; ^(prjrToOev 6

ix^^povv eTTt TO dcTTv fierh rou Trarpo^, ol Be

TapyrjTTol /cpvyjravTe^ eavTov<; evrjhpevovy to9

Bi'XpOev eTTiOrjaofjievoL rot? virevavTiOL^;. rjv he

KTjpv^ puer avrcov, avyp 'A<yvovaio<;, ovofia Aecoq,

ovTo^ i^rjyyeiXe tw Srjo-el ra êfiovXevpîva roh3 HaWavTiSaiî. 6 Be eâi(f)vr}<; eirLirecroov toI^

eveBpevovai Trai/ra? BieÔetpev. ol Be jxerh, rov

IldXXavTO<; irvOop.evoi Btea-Trdprjaav. Ik tovtov

(j)acrl Tft) HaXkrjveoiV Bripb(p irpo^ tov Âyvova-icov

i'Jnyap.Lav firf ehat, fir)Be KrjpvTTeadai tov-

7n')(â)piov Trap* avrot^ "Â/covere Xew'" fiKTovai

yap Tovvop,a Bi.a rrjv irpoBoa-iav tov dvBpo^,

XIV. 'O Be Sr}(Tev<; €V€pyo<i elvat ôv\6fi€vo<^,

apba Be kcli BrjixaycoySyVt i^rjXOev eirl tov Mapa-Ocoviov Tavpov, ovK oTuya irpdyp.aTa toI<; OLKovai

TTjv TeTpdiroXiv Trape'ôvTW koI ')(€ip(D(rdfjL€vo<;

iireBeLâTO ^covTa Bca tov daT€o<; i\daa<;, eiTa t5>

2^

ATToWayvL tm AeXcpivCo) KaTeOvaev.rj Be

^FjKdXrj Kol TO Trepl avTrjv /j^vOoXoyrj/iia tov

êvLcrpôv koI t^9 v7roBo')(rj<; eoLKe fir) rnrdaTjf;

apboipelv dXifOeia^. eOvov yap 'EiKaXrjaia^

ol

TTepi^ Brjp.01, avvLovTe'i Ê/cdXo) Ait, /cal ttjv

'FjfcdXijv iTi/jbQ)v, 'RfcaXbvrjv viroKOptôfievot Bta to

KaKeivrjv veov ovTa KOfiiBy tov Srjcrea êviôvcrav

dcnrdaaorOai Trpea6vTiicCo<; xal cfyiXocppoveidOai

ÊKaXifina the correction of Coraes : 'EKa\r}ffiop.

26

THESEUS, XIII. 2-xiv. 2

themselves into two bands, one of these marched

openly against tlie city from Sphettus with their

father ; the other hid themselves at Gargettus and

lay in ambush there, intending to attack their

enemies from two sides. But there was a herald

with them, a man of Agnus, by name Leos. This

man reported to Theseus the designs of the Pallan-

tidae. Theseus then fell suddenly upon the party

lying in ambush, and slew them all. Thereupon the

\^ party with Pallas dispersed. This is the reason, they

say, why the township of Pallene has no inter-

marriage with the township of Agnus, and why it

will not even allow heralds to make their customary

proclamation there of " Akouete leoi"

(Hearj ye

people .').For they hate the word on account of the

treachery of the man Leos.

XIV. But Theseus, desiring to be at work, and at

the same time courting the favour of the people,went out against the Marathonian bull, which was

doing no small mischief to the inhabitants of the

Tetrapolis.^ After he had mastered it, he madea display of driving it alive through the city, andthen sacrificed it to the Delphinian Apollo. Nowthe story of Hecale and her receiving and enter-

taining Theseus on this expedition seems not to be

devoid of all truth. For the people of the townshipsround about used to assemble and sacrifice the

Hecalesia to Zeus Hecalus, and they paid honours

to Hecale, calling her by the diminutive name of

Hecaline, because she too, when entertaining

Theseus, in spite of the fact that he was quite a

youth, caressed him as.elderly people do, and called

' An early name for a district of Attica comprisingMarathon and three other adjacent townships.

27

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 roiovroi^ v7roKopL<rfiol<;, eVei Be evâro fiev

xjirep avTOV tw AU, fiaSCôvroî eirl rrjv /jlcixw,

el <rftJ9 TrapayevocTO, Ovaeiv, aireOave Be irplv

eKelvov eiraveXdelv, e(j')(e Ta<; elprj/xeva^ a/jLOLâ<i

T?79 <pt\oêvLa<; rov ^rjcreco^ KeXevaavTO^, co?

^Ck6xopo<; loTToprjKev.

XY. ÔXtycp Be varepov rjKov eK K.pijrr)<; to

rpirov oi rov Baafjuov aTrdôvre';, on fiev ovv

ÂvBpoyeco nrepl rrjv Âttlktjv airoOavelv BoXto

B6âvro<;, 6 re Mtz/&)9 ttoWo, Kaxa iroXe/jLcov

elpydêro rou? dvOpcoTrov; Kal to Baifioviov

eÔetpe ttjv x^jopav (^d(j)opia re yap /cdl voao^

eve(JK7]-ê ttoWt] koi dveovaav ol Trora/jLoi), /cal

rov 6eov Trpocrrdâvrof; l\aora/jLevot<; rov Mlvco

Kot BiaXkayelaL Xoac^rjaeiv ro /jb'^vifia Kal rwv

Kafccov eaeaOat iravXav, emfcrjpvKevadiievoL Kal

Be7]0evr€<i eTroLTjaavro avv9'qKa<; ware iri/jbireiv Bl*

evvia ir&v Baafibv ylOeov<; eirrd Kal irapOevov;

roaavra<^, OfJLoXoyovcnv ol irXetaroc rcov avyypa-2

(fiicov' rov<; Be TraiBa^; eh Kpijrrjv Ko/jLi,ôfjLevov<; 6

[lev rpaytK(oraro<; fiv6o<; dirocâivei rov Mii^co-

ravpov iv rS) Aaffvpivdrp Biacpdeipeiv, rj TrXavco-

fievov^ avrov<^ Kal rv^^lv eôBou firj Bwafievov^;

eKel Kara6vrj(TKeiv, rov Be Mcvcoravpov, cjarrep

^vpLTTiBrj^; (prjal,

Xvfi/JbLKrov elBoî KaTro^diXiov Ppe(f)Ofi

yeyovkvai, Kal

Tavpov /xe/xLXât Kal /Sporov BittXt} (f)v(T€i,

28

THESEUS, XIV. 3-xv. 2

him affectionately by such diminutive names. Andsince she vowed, when the hero was going to his

battle with the bull, that slie would sacrifice to Zeusif he came back safe, but died before his return, she

obtained the above mentioned honours as a return for

her hospitality at the command of Theseus, as Philo-

\/ehorus has written.

\ XV. Not long afterwards there came from Crete

for the third time the collectors of the tribute. Nowas to this tribute, most writers agree that because

Androgeos was thought to have been treacherouslykilled within the confines of Attica, not only did

Minos harass the inhabitants of that country gi'eatly

\ in war,^ but Heaven also laid it waste, for barrenness

and pestilence smote it sorely, and its rivers dried

up ;also that when their god assured them in his

commands that if they appeased Minos and becamereconciled to him, the wrath of Heaven would abate

and there would be an end of their miseries, theysent heralds and made their supplication and entered

into an agreement to send him every nine years a

tribute of seven youths and as many maidens. Andthe most dramatic version of the story declares that

these young men and women, on being brought to

Crete, were destroyed by the Minotaur in the Laby-rinth, or else wandered about at their own will and,

being unable to find an exit, perished there ; andthat the Minotaur, as Euripides says, was

U '^ A mingled form and hybrid birth of monstrous\ shape,"

and that"^ Two different natures, man and bull, were joined

in him." ^

^ Cf. Plato, Laws, p. 706.2 Nauck, Trag. Graec. Frag.^, p. 680.

29

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XYL ^«Xo%o/)09 Si(f)7)<riv ov ravra (Tvy^^wpeiv

K.p7]Ta<;, aWa Xeyeiv on <j)povpa puev rjv 6 Aafiv-

pivBoî ovhev 6XC0V Ka/cbv a\Xr) to ^t} Biacftvyetv

Tou? (pvXaTTOfiivovî, dycjva Be 6 M/j/o)? eVÂvBpoyeo) yv/jLVLKov iTroiet, Kal tov<; iralSa^; aOXaTot9 vLKcbacv iSiBov reo)? iv rat Aa^vpiv6(o

(f>vXaTToixevov^* iviKa he tou? irporepov^ aycova^;

6 fieyiarov irap avrcp Bwdfievo^; rore Kal

arpaTTjycoVy ovojia Tavpo<;, avrjp ovk iirLeiKr}^

Kal rjfiepo^ top TpoTrov, dWa koI rot? Traial rcou

Âdrjvaicov v7r6p7)<pdvo)<; Kal')(â\e7rco<; Trpoa-

(p€p6p,€vo<i'

^

Api(TTOTe\r)<; Be Kal avTo^ iv rfj

HoTTtaioyv TToXtreia Bf]X6<; icrrcv ov vojjlL^wv

dvaipelaOai rou? iralBa^; virb rou Mtvco, dXXd

67]T€vovTa^ iv rfj Kpi^rrj KarayrjpdaKeiv xal irore

K.p7]Tafi eiJ')(r)ViraXaiav dTToBiBovra'; dvdpcoTrcov

dirapxrjv eU AeXôu? diroareXXeiVy roU Be

Tre/JLTTo/xevot*; dvajxcxOevra^ iKyovov^ iKeivwv crvv-

eêXdelv a>9 Be ovk rjcrav iKavol rpecpeLv eavTov<^

avToOi, TTpcoTov filv ch 'IrdXiav BiairepaaaLKuKel KaroiKelv irepl rrjv ^lairvyiav, iKetOev Be

av6i<; eh ©paKijv KO/juLaOrivat Kal KXrjOrjvat

BoTTtatof9* Bco ra<; Kopa^; tmv BorrtaLCDV BvaLav

Tiva reXovaaff iTraBeiv **''lco/jb€v eh ÂOrjva*;.^'

''EoiKe yap ovrco^ '^/aXeTrov elvai (pcovrjv i)(ov(T7}

TToXet Kal fzovaav dTreÔdvecrOaL. Kal yap 6

Mivco<; del BiereXei KaKc!)<; dKovcov Kal XocBopov-

/jLevo<; iv Toh Âttikol^ Oedrpoi^t fcal ovt€ 'HcrtoSoy

30

THESEUS, XVI. 1-3

k XVI. Philochorus, however, says that the Cretans

do not admit this, but declare that the Labyrinthwas a dungeon, with no other inconvenience than

that its prisoners could not escape ; and that Minosinstituted funeral games in honour of Androgeos,and as prizes for the victors, gave these Athenian

youth, who were in the meantime imprisoned in

the Labyrinth ;and that the victor in the first games

was the man who had the greatest power at that

time under Minos, and was his general, Taurus byname; who was not reasonable and gentle in his

disposition^ but treated the Athenian youth with

arrogance and cruelty. And Aristotle himself also,

in his " Constitution of Bottiaea,"^

clearly does not

think that these youths were put to death by Minos,but that they spent the rest of their lives as slaves

in Crete. And he says that the Cretans once, in

fulfilment of an ancient vow, sent an offering of

I

their first-born to Delphi, and that some descendants

of those Athenians were among the victims, andwent forth with them ; and that when they wereunable to support themselves there, they first crossed

over into Italy and dwelt in that country roundabout lapygia, and from there journeyed again into

Thrace and were called Bottiaeans; and that this

was the reason why the maidens of Bottiaea, in per-

forming a certain sacrifice, sing as an accompaniment :

"To Athens let us go !

"

And verily it seems to be a grievous thing for

a man to be at enmity with a city Avhich has a

language and a literature. For Minos was always/t abused and reviled in the Attic theatres, and it did

not avail him either that Hesiod ^ called him " most1 Not extant. 2

piato, Minos, p. 320 D ; Hesiod,

Catalogues (Loeb edition), frag 74.

3'

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avrov Svr}(T6 ^'jBadCkevrarov^^ ovT6''0/Jbripo<i*'

oapi-

arrjv ^lo<;^^ wpoaajopevaa'^, uXaS eTTLKpaTijaavre';ol rpaycKol iroWrjp airo rov Xoyeiov koI Tij<; aKr]v7]<;

dBo^lav avTOv KareafciBaaav co? 'yakeTrov ical

ficaiov jevofjbevov. Kalroi, (f)aal rov fjuev Mlvco

âaiXia koI vofjuoOerr^v, BtKaarrjv Be rov *FaBd-

fjbavOvv elvai koI (pvXuKa tcov a)pLcr/JL6V(ov vir

eiceivov Bifcaicov.

XVII. 'EttcI S' ovv KaOrjKev 6')(p6vo<;

rov

rpiTOV Baa-fjiov, koX7rap6')(^€i,v

eBet tol'9 irarepaîirl rov Kkrjpov oU rjaav rjiOeoi nralBe^y av9i<=;

dvecpvovro rw Alyel Biaôkal 7rpo<; rou? TroXirag,

6Bvpofi6vov<; /cat dyavaKTOVVTa<^ ore iravrcov aLTiOf;

wv eK6LV0<;, ovBev /iepo<; €%6i r?)? KoXdaecof; /j,6vo<i,

aXX eVl v60(p KOI ^6V(p iraiBl ttjv dpxv^ ireTrotTj-

fjiivo^ avrov<; irepiopa yvrjaicov eprjixov^ koX

2 diraiBaî d7ro'X€i7ro/i6Vov<;. ravr rjvia rov STjo-ea,

Kal BifcaiMV firj dpuekelv, dWd Koivwvelv rrj<;

Tvxn^ 'iôh TToXirat^;, eTriBcoKev eavrov dvev Kkrjpov

TTpoaeXOcov. Kal TOLp6vr}fia

Oav/jLaarbv icf)dvr] Kal to Stj/jlotikov t^ydinja-av,

6 Be Alyev<;, eirel Beofxevo^ Kal KaOiKerevwy dfxeTd-ireicnov ecopa Kal dfierdTpeirrov, direKXypcocre

TOL'9 dWov<; iTalBa<;.

3 'YXkdvLKOf; Be (prja-iv ov tov? Xaxovra^; diro

KXrjpov Kal Ta9 Xaôvo-a^ eKirifjiTTeiv tt)v ttoXlv,

avTov Be rov Mlvco Trapayivofievov eKXeyeaOaiKal rov Sijaea irdvTcov eXeaOat Trpcorov eVl Tot9

opLcrOelcnv wptapêvov 8* etvao rrjv jiiev vavv

A6r)vaiov<^ Trapix^Lv, eixjBdvTa^; Be irXelv avv

avTcp T0U9 riWeovi fi^]Bev oirXov dprj'iov eTncpepQ-

32

I THESEUS, XVI. 3-xvii. 3

\^ royal," or that Homer ^styled him "a confidant of

Zeus," but the tragic poets prevailed, and from

platform and stage showered obloquy down uponhim, as a man of cruelty and violence. And yet

/M:hey say that Minos was a king and lawgiver, and

that Rhadamanthus was a judge under him, and a

guardian of the principles of justice defined by him.

XVII. Accordingly, when the time came for the

third tribute, and it was necessary for the fathers

who had youthful sons to present them for the lot,

fresh accusations against Aegeus arose among the

people, who were full of sorrow and vexation that hewho was the cause of all their trouble alone had noshare in the punishment, but devolved the kingdomupon a bastard and foreign son, and suffered them to

be left destitute and bereft of legitimate children.

These things troubled Theseus, who, thinking it

right not to disregard but to share in the fortune of

his fellow-citizens, came forward and offered himself

independently of the lot. The citizens admired his

noble courage and were delighted with his public

spirit, and Aegeus, when he saw that his son was notto be won over or turned from his purpose byprayers and entreaties, cast the lots for the rest ofthe youths.

^ Hellanicus, however, says that the city did not

\^

send its young men and maidens by lot, but that

Minos himself used to come and pick them out, andthat he now pitched upon Theseus first of all, follow-

ing the terms agreed upon. And he says the agree-ment was that the Athenians should furnish the

ship, and that the youths should embark and sail

*Odyssey^ xix. 179.

33

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiivovf;, atrdkoêvov hk tov Mtvcoravpov iripa^;

e'xeiv rrjv rroivijv.

4 Uporepov /JL€V ovv ovBepia acoTr^pia^ iXirh

v7reK6Lro' Slo koX pekav lariov €')(ovaav, co? eirl

a-v/jL<f)Opa iTpo^r)\(py ttjv vavv eTre/jLTTOV t6t€ Be

rod Srjaico<; tov Trarepa Oappvvovro^ koX fiejaXr)-

ryopOVVTO^ ft)9 %6//0a)O'€Tat TOV M-LVCOTaVpOV, eBo)/C€V

€T€pov laTiov XevKov T(p KvêpvrjTrj, fceXevaa^;

v7ro<7Tpf.(l)ovTa acoôjiievov tov ©rôreo)? eTrdpaaOaiTO XevKov, el he p.r)y tm peXavt irXelv koX airoar]'

fiaiveiv TO Traô?.

5 'O Be Xip'MviBr}<; ov XevKov (f>7j(Ttv elvai to

BoOev VTTO tov Alyeci)^, aWa "(poivifceov laTiov

vypM TrecjivpfJLevov irpivov dvOei epiOdWov" Ka\

TOVTO Trj<^ <r(OTr]pLa<; avTMV iroirjcracrOai arj/jLelov.

iKv/Sepva Bk ttjv vavv^

AfiapcrvdBa^ êp€K\o<i,6 0)9 (j)r]ai. XifJi03VLBr](;. ^Ckoôpo^ Be irapa X/cupov

<f>r](rlvIk '2a\ap,lvo^ tov Srjaea XajSecv /cv0€p-

vr}Tr]v fiev Navo-lOoov, irpcopia Be âiaKa, fir)

BeTTQ) t6t€ t(ov ÂOrjvaiayv irpoa-eôincov ttj 6a-

XaTTtj' xal yap elvai tcov rjlOewv eva ^leveaOrjv

^KLpov dvyaTpiBovv. pâpTVpel Be tovtol^; rjpipaâvcnOoov Kal âiaKO<; elcrapLevou 0>;creco9 4>a-

XrjpoL 7rpo9 TO) tov %Kipov lep&} Kal ttjv iopTrjvTCL ILvjBepVTjcnd âaiv iKeuvoi^ TeXelcrOaL.

XVIII. Tevo/iievov Be tov KXrjpov TrapaXa^covTov^ Xa')(pvTa^ 6 Srjaev^; iic tov irpVTaveiov, Kai

irapeXdoov eh êXfpiviov, e6j]/cev virep avToyv t^ÂttoXXcovi, ttjv IfceTTjpiav. rjv Be kXuBo<} diro

*tepy bracketed by Bekker {near that of Scirtis).

34

I THESEUS, XVII. 3-xviii. i

X,

ith him carrying no warlike weapon, and that if

the Minotaur was killed the penalty should cease.

On the two former occasions, then, no hope of

safety was entertained, and therefore they sent the

ship with a black sail, convinced that their youthwere going to certain destruction ;

but now Theseus

encouraged his father and loudly boasted that hewould master the Minotaur, so that he gave the

pilot another sail, a white one, ordering him, if hereturned with Theseus safe, to hoist the white sail,

but otherwise to sail with the black one, and so

indicate the affliction.

Simonides, however, says^ that the sail given by

Aegeus was not white, but "a. scarlet sail dyed with

the tender flower of luxuriant holm-oak/' and that

he made this a token of their safety. Moreover, the

pilot of the ship was Phereclus, son of Amarsyas,as Simonides says ; but Philochorus says that The-

"^seus got from Scirus of Salamis Nausithoiis for his

pilot, and Phaeax for his look-out man, the

Athenians at that time not yet being addicted to

the sea, and that Scirus did him this favour becauseone of the chosen youths, Menesthes, was his

daughter's son. And there is evidence for this in

the memorial chapels for Nausithoiis and Phaeaxwhich Theseus built at Phalerum near the temple of

y Scirus, and they say that the festival of the Cyber-^

nesia, or Pilot's Festival, is celebrated in their

honour.

XVIII. When the lot was cast, Theseus tookthose upon whom it fell from the prytaneium andwent to the Delphinium, where he dedicated to

Apollo in their behalf his suppliant's badge. This

^

Fragment 51 (Bergk, Foet. Lyr, Oraecit uL* p. 413).

35

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rrj<; lepa^ iXala^, epiw XevKw Karea-refjifiivo';,

ev^djjievo'i 8e /careBatvev 6KTr) fjir)vo<; iirl 6d-

Xaaaav iGTafxevov Moyi/i/îcuzô?, y Koi vvv ert

ra? Kopa^: TrifiTrovacv l\aa-ofJL6va<s ei? AeXcplviov.2 Xiyerac Be aurco rbv fiev iv AeXcôi? civeXelv

6eov ÂchpoBirrjv fcaOrjyejjLova TTOLeladai /cal irapa- 8

KuXelv avvepiropov, Ovovtl Be irpo^ OaXadarj rr/v

alya O^Xeiav ovorav avTo/jLdTco<; rpcijov fyeveadarBio Koi Kokeladai ti]v Oeov ÊTrirpayiav,XIX. Êwel Be /caTeirXevaep eh Kp^rrjv, a)?

fiev ol TToWol ypdcpovat koi aBovai, nrapa r?}?

ÂpidBvi]^ epaa9ei<j7)<i to \ivov Xa/Scov, koi Bl-

Ba^êl^; &)9 eart rev Xa^vpivOov to\j<; eXiypov^

BieêXOeli', direKTeive tov Mtvcoravpov Kal dire-

rrXevae rrjv ÂpidBvrjv dvaXa^cov koI tov<; rj'i-

Oeovf;, ^€peKvBr)(; Be koX rd eBdcprj tmv K/ar?-

TtKcav veo)V (f>r}aiv eKKoyâi tov (drjaea, Tr)v

2 Blcoîv d<f)aipovpepov. A7]pcov Be Kal tov Taupov

dvaipeOrjvai (prjai tov tov Mlvco aTpaTY)y6vy iv

Tw Xip,evL Btavavpba'XôvvTa tov îiaeoi^ eK-

irXeovTo^. &)9 Be '^1X6^(^0po<^ laToprj/ce, tov dycova

tov MtVce) (TVVTeXovvTO^, eTTiBoÔ'^ oiv d7ravTa<i

irdXtv vLKrjaeiV, Tavpo<; icpOoveiTO. Kal yap rj

BvvapiLf; avTov Bid tov Tpoirov rjv eirax^V^t fâl

BiaôXr]v el'êv co? Trj TIa(n(j)dy irXfjaLd^wv. Bio

Kal TOV %rjaew^ dîovvTO'^ dycoviaacrOat avve-

3 x^prâev 6 MtVa)?. eOov^ Be 6Vto9 ev Kpi)Tij

OedaOai Kal ra? yvvalKaî, WpidBvi] irapovaa irpos

36

_ THESEUS, XVIII. i-xix. 3

^^Was a bough from the sacred olive-tree, wreathedwith white wool. Having made his vows and

prayers, he went down to the sea on the sixth day of

the month Munychion, on wliich day even now theAthenians still send their maidens to the Delphinium

^ to propitiate the god. And it is reported that the

god at Delphi commanded him in an oracle to makeAphrodite his guide, and invite her to attend him onliis journey, and that as he sacrificed the usual she-

goat to her by the sea-shore, it became a he-goat("tragos") all at once, for which reason the goddesshas the surname Epitragia.XIX. When he reaciied Crete on his voyage, most

Iiistorians and poets tell us that he got from Ariadne,who had fallen in love with him, the famous thread,and that having been instructed by her how to makehis way through the intricacies of the Labyrinth, heslew the Minotaur and sailed off with Ariadne and

y the youths. And Pherecydes ^ays that Theseus also

staved in the bottoms of the Cretan ships, thus

depriving them of the power to pursue. AndJr Demon says also that Taurus, the general of Minos,

was killed in a naval battle in the harbour as Theseus

^^ was sailing out. But as Philochorus tells the story,^Minos was holding the funeral games, and Tauruswas expected to conquer all his competitors in them,as he had done before, and was grudged his success.

For his disposition made his power hateful, and hewas accused of too great intimacy with Pasiphae.Therefore when Theseus asked the privilege of

entering the lists, it was granted him by Minos.And since it was the custom in Crete for women to

view the games, Ariadne was present, and was* Cf. cliai)ter xri. 1.

37

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

re rr)v j^jriv i^67r\dyr) tov Srjaeo)^ Kal rrjv

dOXyaiv iOav/jiaae iravTcov KparijaavTO^' rjadeUSe Kal 6 Mli/oxj fidXtara rod Tavpov KarairaXai-

a6evT0<; Kal irpoTrrjXaKtaOevroîi aTriBcoKe tw

@7](T6l TOu$ TratSa? Kal dvrjKe rrj TroXei tov

Baa/.i6v.

i 'iStft)? Be TTO)? Kal 7r6/3£TTft)9 o K\€lB7}/j,o<; diriff-

yeike Trepl tovtcov, dvcoOiv iroOev dp^dfLevo<;, otl

BoyjLLa KOivov rjv 'EWyjvcov jjbrjBefilav eKirXelv

TpLyjpT} firjBa/jioOev dvBpcou irevre TrXetova*; Beô-

/Jiivrjv TOV Be dpxovra t^9 *Apyov<; 'Idaova jjlovov

irepiirXelv^ eêipyovTa t^? OaXaTTtj^ to, Xy-

aTrjpia, AaiBuXov Be ttXoIw (pvyovTOf; eh 'A^/;z/a9,

MLvco<; nrapd tcl BoypLara puaKpalf; vavarl Bkokcov

VTTO ')(eipL(avo<; eh XiKeXiav dirrjve'xÔv a:"'^^^ Kare-5 (TTpeyfre tov jStov. eVet Be Aev/<aXicov 6 vlo<;

avTOv 7roXepLiKco<; e^fov 7rpo<; T0v<i ÂOijvaLOvq

eTrepL-êv, eicBiBovai AaiâXov avT(p KeXevcov rj

Tov<; TralBa^ drroKrevelv direiXcov oy? eXajSev

6pr)pov<; 6 MtV&)9, TovT(p pL€v direKpivaTO nrpdo)^6 Srjaev^, irapairovpLevo^ dveyj/iov ovTa AaiBaXovKaKiivo) Kara y6vo<; Trpoai]KovTa, puijrpb^ ovTa

Mepoirrjf; t^? Êpe)(6e(t}<^, avTO^ Be vavTrrjyiav

iire/SdXero, Trjv pev ev ©vpairaBcov avToOv pa-Kpdv Tt}9 ^€VLKr](; oBov, T^]V Be Blo, UirOecof; ev

6 Tpot^'fjvi,, ôvX6pL€VO(; Xavddveiv. yevopbevayv Be

eToipLwv efeVXeuo-e tov tg AaiBaXov e^wj/ koX

<f)vydBa^ eK Kp7]T7]<; Ka6r}yepi6va<i' ovBei'o<; Be

*irepntKe^y Sinteiiis and Bekker assume a lacuna after this

word. A Bodleian MS. (B'^) has Tpn'ipa v\-fip€i avSpwp Ikcwuv

[with a trireme fully manned),

38

THESEUS, XIX. 3-6

smitten with the appearance of Theseus, as well as

filled with admiration for his athletic prowess, whenhe conquered all his opponents. Minos also was

delighted with him, especially because he conqueredTaurus in wrestling and disgraced him, and there-

fore gave back the youths to Theseus, besides

remitting its tribute to the city.V/ Cleidemus, however, gives a rather peculiar and^ambitious account of these matters, beginning a

great way back. There was, he says, a generalHellenic decree that no trireme should sail from

any port with a larger crew than five men, and the

only exception was Jason, the commander of the

Argo, who sailed about scouring the sea of pirates.Now when Daedalus fled from Crete in a merchant-v^essel to Athens, Minos, contrary to the decrees,

pursued him with his ships of war, and was drivenfrom his course by a tempest to Sicily, where heended his life.^ And when Deucalion, his son,who was on hostile terms with the Athenians, sentto them a demand that they deliver up Daedalusto him, and threatened, if they refused, to put to

death the youth whom Minos had received fromthem as hostages, Theseus made him a gentle reply,

declining to surrender Daedalus, who was his kinsmanand cousin, being the son of Merope, the daughterof Erechtheus. But privately he set himself to

building a fleet, part of it at home in the townshipof Thymoetadae, far from the public road, and partof it under the direction of Pittheus in Troezen,wishing his purpose to remain concealed. Whenhis ships were ready, he set sail, taking Daedalusand exiles from Crete as his guides, and since none

* Of. Herodotus, vii. 170 ; Diodorus, iy. 79.

39

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irpoeiBoTOf;, aWa vav'i (ptXla^ olofievcop tcop

Kpr)Ta>v TTpoacpepeadai, tov \tfi€VO<; KpaTriaa<i

Kol airoâf; €(^6aa€v eU Tr)v K.vcocraop irapeX-6(t)v' Kal fici^rjv ev 7rv\ai<; tov AapvpLvOov

(rvvdylra<; aireiCTeive tov AevfcaXlciiva koI tov<;

7 Bopvôpovf}. iv Se toI^ iTpdyp,a(TL tt}? *Apid8vr}<;

j€vo/jL6vrj<;, a7r€i(Td/jL€V0<; 7rpo<; avTrjv tou? t€

r)L6eov<; dvekaê koX (ptXiav iwoLrjae T0i9 Âdr)-

vatotf} irpo^ T0U9 KpfjTa<;, opLoaavTa^^ pbrjheiroTe

TToXi/iiov KaTdpêiv.XX. UoWol Be Xoyoi kol irepl tovtcov en

XiyovTai Kal irepl t^9 ÂpidZvrj^;, ovBev opuoXo-

jovpuevov eôvTe^. ol puev yap dTrdyPaaOai âcriv

avT7]v diroXeiÔelcrav vtto tov @7;cre&)9, ol Be eh

Nafoi/ VTTO vavTCJV KopLLcrOelaav Olvdpw t5> lepel

TOV Aiovvaov avvoucelv, diroXeLÔrivaL Be tov

©7;a-ea)9 epcopTO^ €Tepa<;'

A€LVO<; ydp puiv eTeipev epco7iaLv 'Hpeaî 6 Meyapeix;, wairep av ird-

Xlv i/jLâXetp eh Tyv '0/jL7]pov pi/cviap to

®r](Tea TieipiOoGV re Oewp dpiBei/ceTa Te/cpa^

')(apL^6pLevop ÂOiivaioL^' evioL Be fcal Texecp eK

Sijaeco^ *ApuiBpr]p OlvoiTLWva /cal XTd(j)vXop' o)P

Kal 6 Xi09 "l(i>p ia-Tl irepl t/}9 eaurov iraTpiBo'i

Xeycop'

Trjp TTore 0r;o-et87;9 eicTiaep OIpottIcop,

40

I THESEUS, XIX. 6-xx. 2

of the Cretans knew of his design, but thought the

approaching ships to be friendly, Theseus madehimself master of the harbour, disembarked his men,and got to Gnossus before his enemies were awareof his approach. Then joining battle with them at

the gate of the Labyrinth, he slew Deucalion and his

body-guard. And since Ariadne was now at thehead of affairs, he made a truce with her, received

back the youthful hostages, and established friend-

ship between the Athenians and the Cretans, whotook oath never to begin hostilities.

XX. There are many other stories about these> matters, and also about Ariadne, but they do not

r agree at all. Some say that she hung herself becauseshe was abandoned by Theseus ; others that she was

V" conveyed to Naxos by sailors and there lived withOenarus the priest of Dionysus, and that she wasabandoned by Theseus because he loved anotherwoman :—

J'Dreadful indeed was his passion for Aigle child of

^Panopeus."^

This verse Peisistratus expunged from the poems of

A^Hesiod, according to Hereas the Megarian, just as,

on the other hand, he inserted into the Inferno of\ Homer the verse :

—A ''Theseus, Peirithous, illustrious children of

Heaven," 2

and all to gratify the Athenians. Moreover, sonic

say that Ariadne actually had sons by Theseus,

Oenopion and Staphylus, and among these is Ion of

Chios, who says of his own native city :—

>" *'This, once, Theseus's son founded, Oenopion."

^

v^

^ Cf. Athenaens, p. 557 a. '^

Odyssey^ xi. 631,'Bergk, Pott. Lyr. Gr. ii.* p. 251.

I41

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

A S* iarlv eix^rjjiorara tmv fivOoXoyovfievcov,

7rdvT6^ ft)9 €7ro9 eiTrelv Blcl (noixaTO^ exovaiv.lBiov Be Tiva Trepl tovtcov Xoyov eKB^BmKe^ HaLcov

3 Â/JLadovaLO^. tov yap Srjaia ^J}(IW viro "xei-

fiSivo^ ek KvTTpov iêvexOevTa Kal tt)v 'ApidBvrjv

eyKvov e'Xôma, âvXo)<; Be BiaKeLfxevriv vtto tov

(Tokov Kal Bvacpopovaav, eK^L^daaL fjuopijv, avrbv

Be Ta> ttXolo) ^07]9ovvTa irdXiv eh to TreXayo^;

aTTo T>}9 7^9 (pepeadai. Ta9 ovv eyxfopiov^ yv-voLKa^ Tr}v ÂpidBv^jv dvaXa/Selv Kal irepieireLv

dOv/JLOvaav eVl Trj fjLOVcocrei, Kal ypd/jLfiaTa irXa-

(TTCL 7rpoa(p€peiv, a)9 tov ©rjaeco^ ypd(j)ovTO<; avrfj,

Kal Trepl rrjv wBiva trvfiTTOvelv Kal ôrjOelv diro-

4 Oavovaav Be Odyjrat firj TeKovarav. eireXOovTa

Be TOV Srjaea Kal TrepiXvirov yevofievov Tot9 {Ji^v

67%ftJ/)toi9 diToXLTrelv '^^prj/xaTaj awTdâvra dveiv

TJj ÂpidBvrjy Bvo Be fiiKpov^ dvBpiavTi(TKov<; IBpv-

aaa-dat, tov fiev dpyvpovv, tov Be 'XâXKovv. iv

Be tJ OverLa tov VopTriaiov fi7}vb<; laTafiivov

BevTEpa KaTaKXivb\ievov Tiva twv veavlo-Kcov

ifideyyeadai Kal iroielv direp odBivovaat yvvaiKe<;'

KoXelv Be TO dXao<; ÂfiaOovaiov^, iv o5 tov Td<j)Ov

BeiKvvovaiv, ÂpidBvr)<;^

AxfypoBiTr)^.

5 Kal 'Naîcov Be Tive<; IBico^—l^^mfiovai. Bvo

MLva)a<; yeveaOai Kal Bvo ÂpidBva<;, cov ttjv fiev

Aiovvao) yap,r]Oj]vaL âajy iv Nd^m Kal tov<;

Trepl ^Td(f>vXov TeKetVy ttjv Be vecoTepav dpira-

aOelaav vtto tov Syja-icof; Kal d7roX€L<f)9eicrav et9

Ndôv iXOelv, Kal Tpo(j)6v psT avrrj^ ovojxa

42

i THESEUS, XX. 2-5

V

Now the most auspicious of these legendary tales

are in the mouths of all men, as I may say ; but a

very peculiar account of these matters is published

by Paeon the Amathusian. He says that Theseus,driven out of his course by a storm to Cyprus, and

having with him Ariadne, who was big with child

and in sore sickness and distress from the tossing of

the sea, set her on shore alone, but that he himself,while trying to succour the ship, was borne out to

sea again. The women of the island, accordingly,took Ariadne into their care, and tried to comfort

her in the discouragement caused by her loneliness,

brought her forged letters purporting to have beenwritten to her by Theseus, ministered to her aid

during the pangs of travail, and gave her burial

when she died before her child was born. Paeon

says further that Theseus came back, and was greatly

aflfiicted, and left a sum of money with the people of

the island, enjoining them to sacrifice to Ariadne,and caused two little statuettes to be set up in her

honour, one of silver, and one of bronze. He saysalso that at the sacrifice in her honour on the second

day of the month Gorpiaeus, one of their young menlies down and imitates the cries and gestures of

women in travail;and that they call the grove in

which they show her tomb, the grove of Ariadne

Aphrodite.Jk" Some of the Naxians also have a story of their

own, that there were two Minoses and two Ariadnes,one of whom, they say, was married to Dionysus in

Naxos and bore him Staphylus and his brother,and the other, of a later time, having been carried

off1)}' Theseus and then abandoned by him, came

to Naxos, accompanied by a nurse named Corcyne,

43

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

KopKvv7]Vi r]^ heiKVvaOat rdcjyov. airodavelv Be

Kol TYjv ÂpidEin]p avToOt koI rifxa^ e^î'V ovxofioia^ Ty TTporepa, rfj jxev yap rjSo/jL6vov<f kol

iraiôvTaf; ioprdêiv, ra? Be Tavrrj Bpw[JLiva<;

6vaLa<; elvav irevOei rivl /cat cTTvyvoTtjTi fie-

fiiyfieva^.

XX T. 'E/c he rrj<; Kp?;T^9 aTToifXewv eh A^Xor

Kariax^' f<^cil t« Oeco Ovcra^ Kal avaOeh rh

a(^pohiaLOV o irapa t^9 ÂptdSv}]<; eXafiev, iô-

pevae ixeja tcov rj'iOicov ^ppelav r^v en vvv eVi-

Tekelv ArjXLOvf; Xeyoycrif /lipijfia to3V ev tw

Aa^vp[vO(p TrepLoocov /cal BieôScov, ev rcvi pvOfiw

•7rapaXkd^€L<; kol dveXlêi^; eôvTi yLyvojJLevrjv.

2 KaXelrat Be to yevo<i rouro ri}? ^ôpeta? viro

AtjXlodv yepavo^, (w? laropel ^LKcdapxos* ^%o-

pevore Be irepl rov "KepaToyva ^copôv, etc Kepdrcov

avvr]pp,o(7pLevov evwvvpwv cLTrdvrojv, iroirjaaL Be

Kol dycovd jîoaLv avTov ev AifXq), Kal T0t9 vtKoxji,

Tore TrpcoTov utt' eKeivov (poivtKa BoOrfvai.

XXII. T^ Be ArTtKrj Trpoacpepo/xevcov exXa-

OeoOai p.ev avrov, eKXadeaOat Be rov /cv^tipviJTrjv

VTTO %apa9 iirupaadau to Io-tlov o5 rrjv acoTrjpiavavTcov eBei, yvoipipov t& Alyel yeveadai' tov

Be diroyvovra plyjraL Kara Trj<; irerpa'^ eavrov

Kal Bia(Ôaprji'aL. KaTairXevcra^ Be 6 SyjaevêOue p,ev avro'^ as eKirXefjov 6vaia<^ evâro toI<;

Oeols âXtjpot, KrjpvKa he dTreareiXe tt}? acoTrj-

2 plas dyyeXov eh da-rv. outo? ivirvx^v uBvpofjue-

voi'i re TToXXoh rr)v rov fiaaiXe(o<; reXevrrjv koi

XaipovcTLVt (»9 elKO's, eiepois Kal (j>iXo<f>popeLaOai

44

THESEUS, XX. 5-xxn. 2

wliose tomb they show ;and that this Ariadne also

died there, and has honours paid her unlike those

of the former, for the festival of the first Ariadne is

celebrated with mirth and revels, but the sacrifices

performed in honour of the second are attended

with sorrow and mourning.XXI. On his voyage from Crete, Theseus put in

at Delos, and having sacrificed to the god and dedi-

cated in his temple the image of Aphrodite which hehad received from Ariadne, he danced with his

X^youths a dance which they say is still performed bythe Delians, being an imitation of the circling

passages in the Labyrinth, and consisting of certain

rhythmic involutions and evolutions. This kind of~dance, as Dicaearchus tells us, is called by the

Delians The Crane, and Theseus danced it round the

altar called Keraton, which is constructed of horns

('^kerata") taken entirely from the left side of thi

head. They say that he also instituted athletic- contests in Delos, and that the custom was then

begun by him of giving a palm to the victors.

>^ XX J I. It is said, moreover, that as they drew nighthe coast of Attica, Theseus himself forgot, and his

pilot forgot, such was their joy and exultation, to

hoist the sail wliich was to have been the token of

their safety to Aegeus,who therefore, in despair, threwhimselfdown from the rock and was dashed in pieces.But Theseus, putting in to shore, sacrificed in personthe sacrifices which he had vowed to the gods at

Phalerum when he set sail, and then dispatched a

herald to the city to announce his safe return. The

messenger found many of the people bewailing thedeath of their king, and others full of joy at his

tidings, as was natural, and eager to welcome him

VOL. I. P 45

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ical <7T6(f)avovv avrov eVl rfj (Twrr^pia irpoOv/JiOi^

ov<TL, TOv<; fiev ovv aT€(j)dvov<; 8€)(^6/jievo(;to

fcrjpvfceiov av€(rT€<f)6v, eTraveXOcov Se eVl dd-

Xaaaav oviroa ireiroLrjfjuivov a-7rov8d<; rod Srjaeoi^

ef0) nrepiefJueLvet purj ôvXofievo^ rr^v 6v(Tiav rapd-

3 âi. yepofiipcov Ee riav airopBcov dirrjyyeLXe rrji/

Tou Aljicoî reXevTrjv. oi Be avv KXavOfiM koI 1(

dopvPm o-7r€vBovr€<; dvi/Saivov elo)veLV Be iv rat? a7rovBal<if 'EXcXeO, 'lou,

*Iou, T0U9 irapQvra^' a>v to fiev airevBovTe'i dva-

(pcoveiu Kol iraicdvLôvTefi elcodaaif to Bk iKirX^-

feo)? Kal Tapa'XTj^; iari.

4 Sdy(ra<; Be tov TraTepa, tc5 ÂttoXXcovi tt)v

ev'xr)v direBiSov t§ i/SBopLrj tov Uvaveyjnayvo^

fjLr)vo<; laTafievov Tavrrj yap dvefirjaav ek dtTTV

(T(O0€VT€<;, 7] fiev ovv €'\^r)cn<; twv oaTrplcovJXiê-

Tat ylveaOai Bik to acoOevTaî avTov<; et? ravTO

"avfifitâi ra irepLovTa tcov atTCcov Kal pbiav

')(VTpav K0iV7)v e'>^r)aavTa<i avvea-TLaOrjvai koX

5 avyKaracpayetv dXX)jXoLf;. ttjv Be eipecndivqv

eKêpovai KXdBov iXaia<; epiw fiev dv€(TT€fifievov,

coairep TOTe rrjv lK€T7]piav, TravroBaTrcov Be dvd-

irXewv KarapyfidT(ov Bia to Xrfâv ttjv d<popiav,

€7rdBovT€<i'

46

THESEUS, XXII. 2-5

rown him with garlands for his good news.

The garlands, tlien, he accepted, and twined themabout his herald's staff, and on returning to the sea-

shore, finding that Theseus had not yet made his

libations to the gods, remained outside the sacred

precincts, not wisliing to disturb the sacrifice. But

when the libations were made, he announced the

death of Aegeus. Thereupon, with tumultuous

lamentation, they went up in haste to the city.

y Whence it is, they say, that to this day, at the

festival of the Oschophoria,^ it is not the herald that

is crowned, but his herald's staff, and those who are

present at the libations cry out :" Eleleu ! lou !

lou !

"the first of which cries is the exclamation of

eager haste and triumph, the second of consternation

and confusion.

After burying his father, Theseus paid his vowsto Apollo on the seventh day of the month Pyanep-sion; for on that day they had come back to the

city in safety. Now the custom of boiling all sorts

of pulse on that day is said to have arisen from the'"

fact that the youths who were brought safely back

by Theseus put what was left of their provisionsinto one mess, boiled it in one common pot, feasted

upon it, and ate it all up together. At that feast

they also carry the so-called "eiresione," which is a

bough of olive wreathed with wool, such as Theseusused at the time of his supplication, and laden with

all sorts of fruit-offerings, to signify that scarcity wasat an end, and as they go they sing :

—^ A vintage festival, during which branches of the vine

with grapes upon them (oexoi) were borne in procession fromAthens to Phalerum. See chapter xxiii. 2,

47

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

"Eilpea-icovrf arvKa (fiepei Kot iriovaf; aprov^

Kot fjLeXi ev KOTvKr) fcal eXatov aTroyfnjcraa-Oai

Kal kvXlk ev^wpovy ci>9 av jieOvovaa KaOevBrj.

Kalroi ravrd rive^ eVt rot? 'UpaKXeiSacf; yiveaOat

Xi^ôvsmi, ovToxi Siarpe(l)o/xevoi<; viro tcjp ^Kdr)-

vaiwv ol he irXeiove^ &)? Trpoeiprjrai.

XXIII. To Se ttXolov iv c5 piera rcov rjWicov

eTrA-Gfcre Kal ttoXiv iacodrj, tyjv rpiaKovropov, a\pi

rcov Ar)pLi]Tp[ov rov â\rjpi(o<; ')(^p6vcov Bi6(j)v-

XaTTOV ol ÂOrjvoLOL, TO, pL€V woXaia Tcov ^vXcov

vâLpovvTe<i, dXXa Be ep^âXXovTe^ layrupa koI

avpLTTrj'yvvvTe^ ovtco<; axrre /cal tol<; <^lXog6<ôl^

et? Tov avôpievov Xoyov dpcpiBoôvpLevov irapd-

BeLjpa TO ttXoIov elvai, rwu pev tw? to avrot rcov

Be ft)9 ov TO avTO BiapLevoi Xeyovrcop.

2 ^KyovffC Be Kal ttjv rcov ooaxocfyopLcov eoprrjv

%r]ae(ti^ KaTa(7Tr}aavT0<;» ov yap d'jrdcra'i avrov

iâyayeiv Ta9 Xaôvcra<; rore irapdevov^, dXSu

T(bv awTjOcov veaviaK03v Bvo 6i^Xv(j>avel<; fiev

6^6f]vaL Kal veapov<i, dvBpQ)B€L<; Be Ta? yjrvxd<> Kal

7rpodvpi>ov<i, XovTpol<; re OeppuoU Kal a-Kiarpa(j)iaL^ I

Kal Tal<; irepl Koprjv Kal Xeiorrjra Kal ^poiav

dXaicfiaU Kal Koaprjoreatv ft)? eartv eâXXdâvra

KO/JLiByt Kal BiBdâPTa (pcopijv Kal(r^^^/jpLa Kal

I THESEUS, XXII. 5-xxTii. 2

V

Eiresione for us brings figs and bread of the richest,

Brings us honey in pots and oil to rub off from the

body,

Strong wine too in a beaker, that one may go to

bed mellow."

Some writers, however, say that these rites are in

memory of the Heracleidae,^ who were maintained

in this manner by the Athenians ; but most put the

matter as I have done.

XXIII. The ship on which Theseus sailed with

the youths and returned in safety, the thirty-oared

galley, was preserved by the Athenians down to the

time of Demetrius Phalereus.^ They took away the

old timbers from time to time, and put new andsound ones in their places, so that the vessel becamea standing illustration for the philosophers in the

mooted question of growth, some declaring that it

remained the same, others that it was not the samevessel.

It was Theseus who instituted also the Athenian

^-festival of the Oschophoria. For it is said that he did

not take away with him all the maidens on whom the

lot fell at that time, but picked out two young menof his acquaintance who had fresh and girlish faces,

but eager and manly spirits, and changed their out-

ward appearance almost entirely by giving them warmbaths and keeping them out of the sun, by arrangingtheir hair, and by smoothing their skin and beauti-

* On the death of Heracles, his children, to escape thewrath of the tyrant Eurystheus, came as suppliants to

Athens, bearing branches in their hands. See the Heradeidaeof Euripides.

2Regent of Athens for Cassander of Macedon, 317-307 B.C.

Cf. Plato, Fhaedo, p. 58.

49

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

/ddSiaiv <W9 €Vi fidXiara 'jTap6evoL<; o/MotovaOai Kai

fjL7)8ev âlvecrdai BLa(f)epovTa<i, ifi^dXelv eh top

T(jt)v Trapdevcov dpidfiov Kol SiaXaOelu UTravra^'

3 iirel Be eiravrjXOev, avrov re irofJUTrevaai kol tou?

veavLaKovfi ovt(o<; dfi7rexo/êvov<; ft)9 vvv d/jLire-

Xovrai Toix; 6crxov<; (f>epovTe<;. cpepovcri Be Ato-

pv(7(p Kol^

AptdBvrj i(âpt^6/j,evoc Btd top pLvOov, ?}

jiaXkov on o-vjKOfMi,ô/jLev7]<i oiroipa^ eiravriXBov'

al Be BeiTrvoôpoi TrapaXajjL^dvovrai kol kolv(d-

vov(TL T?}<? Ov<7ia<; dTTO/iifjLov/jLevat ra^ fi7}Tepa<;

eKelvotiV rcov XayovTOiv eireôiTwv yap avroL^

oyjra koX aiTla /cofxiôvcrar koX fivdoi Xeyoprai

Bid TO KuKeivaf; evdufiia^ evexa koI 7rapr}yopla<;

/Jiv0ov<; Bteîevai tol<; TraiaL. ravra puev ovv koI

AtJ/awv i(?:T0£2««^„ ^^yp^^V ^^ ^^^ Tefievo^ avro),

KOL Toift; diro t&p irapaax^PTcop top BaapLOP

otxcop €Taêp eh ducrlap avT(p reXelp aTrocjyopd^'

KOL T^9 OuaLa<i eTre/JueXovPTo ^vraXlBai, STjaetof;

diToBoPTo^ avToh dpLOt^rjp t^9 ^tXoêvia'^.

XXIY. Mera Be ttjp Alyeco<; reXevrrjp fieya koI

Oavpuaarop epyop eh povp /SaXopuepof; avpcpKicre

rov^ TTjp 'Attlktjp KaT0LK0VPTa<; eU ep darv, Koi

fiid9 (TTropdBa^

opTa^ KOI BvaapuKX^Tovi 7rp6<i to koipop TrdpTcov

50

ITHESEUS, XXIII. 2-xxiv. i

Jr

fying their complexions with unguents ; he also

taught them to imitate maidens as closely as possiblein their speech, their dress, and their gait, and to

leave no difference that could be observed, and then

enrolled them among the maidens who were goingto Crete, and was undiscovered by any. And whenhe was come back, he himself and these two youngmen headed a procession, arrayed as those are now

arrayed who carry the vine-branches. They carrythese in honour of Dionysus and Ariadne, and

because of their part in the story ; or rather, because

they came back home at the time of the vintage. Andthe M^omen called Deipnophoroi, or supper-carriers,

take part in the procession and share in the sacrifice,

in imitation of the mothers of the young men andmaidens on whom the lot fell, for these kept comingwith bread and meat for their children. And tales

are told at this festival, because these mothers, for

the sake of comforting and encouraging their chil-

dren, spun out tales for them. At any rate, these

details are to be found in the history of Demon.

Furthermore, a sacred precinct was also set apart for

Theseus, and he ordered the members of the fami-

lies which had furnished the tribute to the Minotaurto make contributions towards a sacrifice to himself.

This sacrifice was superintended by the Phytalidae,and Theseus thus repaid them for their hospitality.^XXIV. After the death of Aegeus, Theseus

conceived a wonderful design, and settled all the

residents of Attica in one city, thus making one

people of one city out of those who up to that time

had been scattered about and were not easily called

together for the common interests of all, nay, they^ Cf. chapter xii. 1.

51

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avfiêpov, earI 8' ore Kal BLa(f>€po/iiei>ov<i aXXrjXoi^;

2 Kol TTokejaovvTa^. iiruoif ovv aveireiOe Kara 1

B'^fiovq Kal yevj-], rcov fiev lSkotcov Kal irevrjTCOV

ivBexojêvcov Taû rrjv TrapaKXrjaiv avrov, tol<;

Se hwarol^ djSaaiXevrov rrokiTeiav irpoTeivwvKal ^TjiMOKparlav avrco fxovov ap-yovTi irokeiiov

Kal vof-icdv <j>u\aKt ')(p7]a-o/jb€vrjv, rcov Se aWwv3 Trapeôvcrav airacTLv laofJLOipiav. tou? pêv

^

ravra eweidev, ol Be rr]v hvvaptv avrov SeBtore^

p,e<yaX7jv ovaav yBi] Kal rrjv roXpav, e/3ov\ovTO

TreiOop.evoL pâWov r) ^Laôpêvoi ravra avyx^copelv.

Kara\vaa<; ovv ra irap eKaaroi^ irpvravela Kal

ôvXevrrjpia Kal dp^d^}, ev 8e iroirjcra^ diraa-i

KOLVov evravOa irpvravelov Kal fiovXevrrjpiov

oirov vvv 'iBpvrat rb aarv, rrjv re iroXiv ^K6rjva<i

TTpocnjyopevcre Kal TiavaOrjvaia Ovaiav erroLrjae

4 KOLvrjv. eOvae Be Kal IsleroiKia rrj eKry eirl

BeKa rov *^KaropL0at(bvo^, rjv en vvv Ovovcn.

Kal rrjv âo-tXeiav dtjyei^, Mo-irep oypoXoyrjaef

BLeKoapuet, rrjv iroXireiav diro Oewv dp')(pp,evo<i'

riKe jdp avro) ')(pr]apb<; Sk AeX(f>(ov pLavrevo/Mevco

irepl T?}? TToXeG)?*

5 AlyeiBii (drjaev, IlLrdi]tBo(; eKjove KOvprj<},

iroXXalf} rov iroXieaaL rrrarrjp e/zo? ejKareOrjKe

reppLara Kal KXwarrjpa^ ev vpuerepw TrroXiedpay,

dXXa <TV pLTj n Xirjv ireirovrjpevo^ evBoOc OvpLov

fiovXeveiv ddKo^ yhp ev o'cBparc TrovroTTopevaei.

Îffofioipiew. Tohs fifv with Corags and Bekker : Icroffipiaw,

robs jxiv.

52

THESEUS, XXIV. 1-5

sometimes actually quarrelled and fought with each

other. He visited them, then, and tried to win

them over to his project township by township andclan by clan. The common folk and the poor

quickly answered to his summons ; to the powerfulhe promised government without a king and a

democracy, in which he should only be commanderin war and guardian of the laws, while in all else

everyone should be on an equal footing. Some he

readily persuaded to this course, and others, fearinghis power, which was already great, and his boldness,chose to be persuaded rather than forced to agree to

it. Accordingly, after doing away with the town-

halls and council-chambers and magistracies in the

several communities, and after building a commontown-hall and council-chamber for all on the groundwhere the upper town of the present day stands, henamed the city Athens, and instituted a Panathenaic

festival. He instituted also the Metoecia, or Festival

of Settlement, on the sixteenth day of the month

Hecatombaeon, and this is still celebrated. Then,

laying aside the royal power, as he had agreed, he

proceeded to arrange the government, and that too

with the sanction of the gods. For an oracle cameto him from Delphi, in answer to his enquiries aboutthe city, as follows :

—" Theseus, offspring of Aegeus, son of the daughter

of Pittheus,

Many indeed the cities to which my father has givenBounds and future fates within your citadel's

confines.

Therefore be not dismayed, but with firm andconfident spirit

G)unsel only; the bladder will traverse the sea andits surges."

53

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rovTO Se KOI %ipvXkav vcnepov dTroa-TOfiaTiaaL

TTpo? T^z/ TToXiv LGTOôvcTLV, dvacpdejâfievTjv'

'A(7/f09 jSairrl^y Bvvat Be rot ov 6e/jLi<; ia-rlv.

XXV. "Et* Be fiaXkov av^rjaac rrjv irokiv fiov-

\6fjL€vo^ €KaXeL 'Trdvra<; eVl rol^ Lcroiq, koI to**

AeO/^' LT€ iravreî Xt'O)" Kypvyfia ©Jjaeox; yeve-

aOai (pacrl iravBrjixiav rivd /cadc(TTdvTO<;. ov /j,r)v

draKTov ovBe fjLe/jLiyfjbivrjv TrepielSev vtto iTkrjdov^

€7rt%f^6VTO? aKpirov yevofjbivrjv rrjv Brj/ioKpariav,

dXkd TTpwTO? diroKpiva'i %ft)/3i9 evirarplSa'; kol

2 yecDfjLopovf; /cat Brjfiiovpyov^, evTraTpCBat^; Be ytvco-

(TKeuv rd dela koI irapex'î'V dp)(ôvTa<; aTroSou?

xal v6/JL(ov BtBaaKdXov^; elvai xal oalcov xal lep&v

e^riyr]rd<i, rot? dXkoL<; iroXiTaL^ âirep eU icrov

Karearrjcre, Bo^rj fxev evTraTpiBwv, %/9eta Be yeco-

fjLopcoVf 7r\i]0ei Be BrjfjLwvpycov virepexîv Bokovv-

T(ov. OTi Be 7rpcoTOrj<Ti , xal dcprJKC to /jLovap)(€LV, eotKe

fiapTVpelv Kal "0/jb7}po<; ev vewv KaToXoyw jjlovov^

W.dr}vaiov^ Btjjjlov irpoaayopevaaî,

3 "^^KQ-ê Be Koi vofiicriMa, ôvv eyx^pdâ^, rj Bid

Tov M.apaO(t)VLov Tavpov, rj Bid tov M^V&) o-TpaTT}-

ydv, Tj 7rpo9 yecapyiav tou? jroXiTa^ irapaKoXwv.dir CKeivov Be (paai to CKaTOfi/SoLov xal to Bexd-

Ôiov ovopâaOrjvai, nrpoa-KTTjadjjLevo^ Be tJ *At-

TiKy T7JV MeyapiKTjv ySeâto)?, Trfv 6pu7<ovjjL€prjv

54

THESEUS, XXIV. 5-xxv. 3

And this oracle they say the Sibyl afterwards repeatedto the city, Avhen she cried :

—" Bladder may be submerged ; but its sinking will

not be permitted."

XXV. Desiring still further to enlarge the city,he invited all men thither on equal terms, and the

phrase *^'Come hither all ye people," they say wasa proclamation of Theseus when he established a

people, as it were, of all sorts and conditions. How-ever, he did not suffer his democracy to becomedisordered or confused from an indiscriminate mul-titude streaming into it, but was the first to separatethe people into noblemen and husbandmen andhandicraftsmen. To the noblemen he committedthe care of religious rites, the supply of magistrates,tlie teaching of the laws, and the interpretation of

the will of Heaven, and for the rest of the citizens

he established a balance of privilege, the noblemen

being thought to excel in dignity, the husbandmenin usefulness, and the handicraftsmen in numbers.And that he was the first to show a leaning towardsthe multitude, as Aristotle says, and gave up his

absolute rule, seems to be the testimony of Homeralso, in the Catalogue of Ships,^ where he speaks of

the Athenians alone as a "people."He also coined money, and stamped it with the

effigy of an ox, either in remembrance of the Mara-thonian bull, or of Taurus, the general of Minos, or

because he would invite the citizens to agriculture.^ From this coinage, they say," ten oxen

"and " a

hundred oxen"came to be used as terms of valuation.

Having attached the territory of Megara securely to

*Iliad, ii. 547.

55

\

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

iv ÎcrOfio) (ttijXtjv ea-TTjaev, iTnypd-y^ra^ ro SiopCôv

€7rL<ypa/j,jjLa rrjv ')(oi>pav hvcX rpt/jL€Tpoi<;, a)v ecjipaê

TO 'fiev 7r/?09 tci)

TaS' ov^l lLl€\o7r6vvrj(TO<i, a)OC Îcovla'

TO * 06 7rpo Aity Kal Sl*

avTOV "laOfiia rep UoaeLBcovi (jjcXorifiTjOeh ayetv

T0U9 ^^^X\T]va<;. 6 yap eVl MeXtKeprrj redeU av-

toOl vvkto^ iSpdro, reXerrjf; e%(i)i; pLoXXov ^ 6ia<;

Kal TravrjyupLo-fjLov rdîv, eviOL Be (pag-iv iirl

^KetpcovL ra ^laOfua red-fjvai,, rov ^rjoreco^ d<ô-

(Tiovfievov rov (ftovov Sia rrjv avyyeveiav ^Kelpwva

yap vlov elvaL K.avÔov Kal'Hz/ô^j^t;? t^9 TlirOia^;,

5 ol he Xlpiv, ov XKeopcDva, Kal rov dywva re9)]vai

Sia rovrov viro %7j(Te(o<iy ov Bv eKelvov. eraêv ovv

KaX Bicoplaaro 7rpo9 roif<; K-opivOlov; ^KO-qvaiwv 12

T0i9 d<îKvoviJievoL^ errX ra ^'laOfjua rrapkyeiv irpo-

eSpCav 6(Tov av rorrov 67rL(T^r) KaraireraaOev to

T^ 66(opiho<s v€ot)<; lariov, a)9 'EXXdviKo^^ Kal

"A-PhpfDv o 'AXiKapvaaevî laropyJKaaiv.

^ rh [x(v, ri 5e with Coraes, after Reiske : ra ixkv, rk Hi,

56

THESEUS, XXV. 3-5

Attica, he set up that famous pillar on the Isthmus,and carved upon it the inscription giving the terri-

torial boundaries. It consisted of two trimeters, of

which the one towards the east declared :—

\

1^

" Here is not Peloponnesus, but Ionia ;

*

and the one towards the west :—

" Here is the Peloponnesus, not Ionia.**

He also instituted the games here, in emulation of

Heracles, being ambitious that as the Hellenes, bythat hero's appointment, celebrated Olympian gamesin honour of Zeus, so by his own appointment theyshould celebrate Isthmian games in honour of

Poseidon. For the games already instituted therein honour of Melicertes were celebrated in the night,and had the form of a religious rite rather than of a

spectacle and public assembly. But some say that

V'the Isthmian games were instituted in memory of

Sciron, and that Theseus thus made expiation for his

murder, because of the relationship between them ;

for Sciron was a son of Canethus and Henioche, who

\ was the daughter of Pittheus. And others have it

that Sinis, not Sciron, was their son, and that it wasin his honour rather that the games were instituted

by Theseus. However that may be, Theseus madea formal agreement with the Corinthians that theyshould furnish Athenian visitors to the Isthmian

games with a place of honour as large as could becovered by the sail of the state galley which broughtthem thither, when it was stretched to its full

extent. So Hellanicus and Andron of Halicarnassus

tell us.

57

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XXVI. EtV Se Tov TTovTov eirXevae rov Kvêt-vov, ft)? /jL6P -4XQ.')(ôpos,KalTt,v€<; akXot Xeyovac,fjLeO^ 'HpaK\eov<i eVt ra? 'AyLtafoi/a? o-va-rparev-(Ta<;, Kol jipaî

^ÂvTioirrfv eXafiev ol Be irXeiov^,

wv iorl KoX êpe/cv87]<; teal*

EXXdviKO^ koI 'H/ô-

Bcopo^y varepov (jiuaiv 'Hpa/cXeovî IbioaroXov

TrXevaac rov @7)aea koI rrjv 'A/xaô/a Xa0€iv

alxP'i^XcoTov, TTiOavcoTepa Xeyovref;. ovSeli^-s^âp

aXXo<; l(TT6p7)Tac tcop /jL€t avTov aTparevcravrcov2 Â/xaôva Xafielv alxP'oXcoTOV î(ov BkjijsXjL^^-

TTjv TTapaKpovcrdfievov oX-xâOai Xaôvra' <f)vaei

yap ovaa^ ra? 'AyLtafozâ? îXdvBpov^ ovt€ (jiuyelv

TOP @7]aea irpoa^dXXovra Trj X^P^> ^^^^ '^^^

êvia TrepbTretv rov Be rrjv KOpiiôuaav e/njSrjvac

irapaKaXelv el<i to ttXoIov ififida-r]^ Be dva-

')(6r]vaL.

MeveKpdrrjf; Be ri,<^, Icrropiav irepl îKaiafi rrjfi

ev lîOvvla TroXeco^; eKBeBo3_i<:oc)<iy ^rjaea (fyrjal rrjv

ÂvTLoirrjv exovra BtaTply^rai irepl tovtov<; tov<;

3 TOTTOf?* Tvy')(dveiv Be av(TTpaT€vovTa<; avrw rpel^

veavL(7K0v<; e^ ÂOrjvoov dBeXôv<^ dXXyXcop, Kv-

vecov Koi @6avTa Koi XoXoevra. tovtov ovv ipcov-ra T^9 *AvTt67rr)<; koi XavOdvovra tou9 a\Xov(o<;

dfia KoX 7rpa(o<i evey/celv kol irpo^ rov Srjaia firf

4 KarrjyoprjoraL. rov Be XoXoevro^; co? aTreyvo) pl-

yâvTO^ eavToveh Trora/JLOV riva koi BLa(f)6apevT0<i,

rja6')]fj,evov rore ttjv airLav koI to rrrdOo'i rov

^yfpas with Cobet ; yepas apurrtiov MSS., Coraes, Bekker :

-ytpas apicreiStv.

S8

THESEUS, XXVI. 1-4

XXVI. He also made a voyage into the Euxine

Sea, as Philochorus and sundry others say, on a

campaign with Heracles against the Amazons, and

received Antiope as a reward of his valour ;but the

majority of writers, including Pherecydes, Hellanicus,and Herodorus, say that Theseus made this voyageon his own account, after the time of Heracles, and

took the Amazon captive ; and this is the more

probable story. For it is not recorded that any one

else among those who shared his expedition took anAmazon captive. And Bion says that even this

Amazon he took and carried off by means of a strata-

gem. The Amazons, he says, were naturally friendlyto men, and did not fly from Theseus when hetouched upon their coasts, but actually sent him

presents, and he invited the one who brought themto come on board his ship ; she came on board, andhe put out to sea.

And a certain Menecrates, who published a historyof the Bithynian city of Nicaea, says that Theseus,with Antiope on board his ship, spent some time in

those parts, and that there chanced to be with himon this expedition three young men of Athens whowere brothers, Euneos, Thoas, and Solois. This last,

he says, fell in love with Antiope unbeknown to the

rest, and revealed his secret to one of his intimate

friends. That friend made overtures to Antiope,who positively repulsed the attempt upon her, buttreated the matter with discretion and gentleness,and made no denunciation to Theseus. Then Solois,in despair, threw himself into a river and drowned

himself, and Theseus, when he learned the fate of

59

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

veavicTKOv rov Srjaea âpeax; ivejKetv, koI hvaô-

povvra Xoytov ri irvOo'x^pyaTov aveveyKCtv 7rpo<;

iavTov elvai yap avrcp irpoareTayfievov iv AeX-

Ôi9 viro T% TivOla^, orav eVt fei/77? avLadfj fid-

Xiara koX TreptXuTro? yevrjTaL, ttoKlv eKel Krla-ai,

Kol T(bvafi(f)^

avTov rivaî r^yeixova^; KaTdknreiv.

5 eK Se TOVTOV rrjv jjuev irokiv, rjv eKTiaev, airo rov

6eov UvOottoXlv Trpoa-ayopevaac, ôXoevra Se top

irXr)aiov irorafiov iirl Tc/jufjrod veaviaKov. Kara-

Xiirelv he kol tov<; aBeX(l)ov<; avrov, olov eTTLard-

Ta<^ KOL vofio66Ta<;y kuI avv avTol<; 'Êpfxov avBpaT(ov Âdijvrjaiv evirarpLhcav dcj)^

ov /cal roirov

*RpfjLov KaXelv olKiav to 1)9 TlvOoiroXiraîy ovk

6pd(b<; rrjv heprepav crvXXa/Srjv TrepLaTTcovra'^ xal

rrjv Boâu eVl Oeov diro rjp(oo<i yLterartêz^Ta?.

XXYIL TJpoâacv fiev ovv ravrrjv 6 twv

Âfiaôvcov iroXe/JLO^; ecrx'^' ^di'Verai, Be fit) cpavXovavrov /j,r)Be yvvaiKelov yevkcrQai to epyov, ov yapav iv dcrrei KarearparoTTeBevaav ovBe rrjv fidîjv

o-vvrjyjrav iv %pa) Trepl rrjv UvvKa /cal ro Mov-(T€iOV, el

/jLT] Kparovaai rrj<; '^(^copa^ aSew? rfj iroXei

2 TrpocrifiLâv. el fiev ovv, co? 'EXXdviK0<; laroprj/ce,

ra> Ki/jL/jiepiKa) BocrTropco Tvayevri Bia^daaL irepi-

rjXOov, epyov earl marevaar to Be iv rfj iroXei

a')(eBov avrd<; ivarparorreBevaai, fiaprvpelrai xal

roh ovojiiao-c rcov roircov /cal Tat? 6i]fcaL<; rcov

irecTovrwv.

YloXvv Be ^(pQVQV oKVO^ r)v Kal /leXXrja'L'i dfi-

<f>orepoL^ r7]<; eTTL')(eLprjcre(a<;' tcXo? Be %r}<jev^ /card

60

THESEUS, XXVI. 4-xxvii. 2

tlie young man, and wliat had caused it, was grievouslydisturbed, and in his distress called to mind a certain

oracle which he had once received at Delphi. Forit had there been enjoined upon him by the Pythianpriestess that when, in a strange land, he should besorest vexed and full of sorrow, he should found a

city there, and leave some of his followers to governit. For this cause he founded a city there, andcalled it, from the Pythian god, Pythopolis, and the

adjacent river, Solois, in honour of the young man.And he left there the brothers of Solois, to be the

city's presidents and law-givers, and with themHeranus, one of the noblemen of Athens. From himalso the Pythopolitans call a place in the city theHouse of Hermes, incorrectly changing

^ the second

syllable, and transferring the honour from a hero to

a god.XXVn. Well, then, such were the grounds for the

war of the Amazons, which seems to have been notrivial nor womanish enterprise for Theseus. For

they would not have pitched their camp within the

city, nor fought hand to hand battles in the neigh-bourhood of the Pynx and the Museum, had theynot mastered the surrounding country and approachedthe city with impunity. Whether, now, as Hellanicus

writes, they came round by the Cimmerian Bosporus,which they crossed on the ice, may be doubted ; butthe fact that they encamped almost in the heartof the city is attested both by the names of thelocalities there and by the graves of those who fell

in battle.

Now for a long time there was hesitation and

delay on both sides in making the attack, but finallv

*Laterally, giving it the circumflex accent.

61

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tt \oyiov Tft) ô^w aâyiao'dfjLevo'; (Tvvrj'\lr€v

3 aurat?. V /^^^ ol^ I^clXÎ ôr}Bpofii(t)vo<; iyevero

fjLi]vb<; e(j> f)ra BorjSpo/jiLa fie)(pi vvv Âdrjvatot

Ovovaiv. laropei he KXeihruxo^, iâKpi/Sovv ra

Ka6' e/cacTTa jBovXafievo^, to fiev evcovv/juov'Twv

Âfiaôvcov Kepa^ i7ri(TTpi(j)€iV irpo^ to vvv koKov-

fievov Âfiaôvetov, toG Be Se^tw tt/oo? rrjv Hi'v/ca

Kara rrjv Xpvcrav TjKeiv. ixd')(ea6ai he 7rpo<; tovto

Tov?*

AO')]vaLov<; ttTTo ToO Movaeiov Tat? Â/na-

ôaL (TViJbireaovTa^y /cal Td(f)ov<; twz^ Tveaovrav

irepl rrjv irXarelav elvai t^v (jyepovcrav errl ra^ 13

TTuXafi Trapa to XaXAccwSoyTO? r]pCpov, a? vvv

4 Yletpaiica<; ovofidôvcri,, /cal ravrrj fiev e/c/Biaadi]-

vav fJiexpi' TO^v ^vfievihcov Koi v7roxo:>p'i]a-ai, Tai9

yvvaiîv, diro Be TLaWaSiov koi 'ApBijTTOv koi

AvkbLov 7rpo(jl3ak6vTa<^ coaacOai ro Beîov avrcbv

d'Xpi' Tov (TTparoTreBov /cal TroXXa? /caraâXelv.

TerdpTO) Be firivl (Tvvdr)Ka<; yeveaOai Bid t^9

'IttttoXvt???' 'iTTTToXvTrjv yap ovto^ ovofidêu tt)v

TO) S)]ael (TVvoLKOvaav, ov/c Âvtiotttjv."^"^

''Rvioi, Be (f)aac fierd rov Srjcrio)<; fiaxofJbevrjv

7r€0'eiir~T^jr~av6po)7rov vtto MoXTraBiafi aKovri-

aOeicrav, Kal rrjv ar'^Xrjv rrjv irapd to t?)? 'OXv/jl-

5 TTta? lepov CTTt ravry /cecaOai. /cal Oav/JLaarov ovk

ecTTiv eVt TTpdy/juiaLV ovrco iraXaiol'^ irXavdaOai

rrjv laropLav, iirel /cal Ta? rerpcDfieva^ (fâal twj/

Âfiaôvcov VTT ÂvTioTTTjf; €t9 XaX/ctStt Xddpa

Bia7refjL(j)d6L(Ta<; rvy^dvetv eirifjieXeia^, kol ra^rj-vai rcva<; eKel irepl to vvv

'

Ajjuiôveiov /caXovfievov.

6a

\

THESEUS, xxvii. 2-5

Theseus, after sacrificing to Fear, in obedience to an

oracle, joined battle witli the women. This battle,

then, was fought on the day of the month Boedromionon which, down to the present time, the Athenians

celebrate the Boedromia. Cleidemus, who wishes to

be minute, writes that the left wing of the Amazonsextended to what is now called the Amazonemn,and that with their right they touched the Pnyx at

Chrysa; that with this left wing the Athenians

fought, engaging the Amazons from the Museum,and that the graves of those who fell are on either

side of the street which leads to the gate by the

chapel of Chalcodon, which is now called the Peiraic

gate. Here, he says, the Athenians were routed anddriven back by the women as far as the shrine of the

Eumenides, but those who attacked the invaders

from the Palladium and Ardettus and the Lyceum,drove their right wing back as far as to their camp,and slew many of them. And after three months,he says, a treaty of peace was made through the

agency of Hippolyta ;for Hippolyta is the name

which Cleidemus gives to the Amazon whom Theseus

married, not Antiope.But some say that the woman was slain with a

javelin by Molpadia, while fighting at Theseus's side,and that the pillar which stands by the sanctuary of

01}Tnpian Earth was set up in her memory. And it

is not astonishing that history, when dealing withevents of such great antiquity, should wander in

uncertainty, indeed, we are also told that thewounded Amazons were secretly sent away to

Chalcis by Antiope, and were nursed there, andsome were buried there, near what is now called

the Amazoneum. But that the wai- ended in a

63

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

dXKa Tov ye rov iroXe/juov eh airovha^; TeXevTrjaai

fxapTVpLov i(7Tiv Tfre rod tottov kXtjctl^ tov irapa

TO Srjaeiov, oinrep 'OpKcopoaiov KaXovcnv, rj t€

yivo/xevr) irakai dvaia Tal<i Âfiaôa-L irpo t&v

6 %r)crei(ov. heiKvvovcn he fcal M.€japeL<; 'A//afo-

vcov di]Krjv Trap" aiiroh, cttI tov KokovjjLevov 'Vovv

âBiôvcTiv ef ayopa^;, oirov to 'Po/xô£iBi<;.

XiyeTat Be koI irepl âipcaveiav €T€pa<; airoOaveZv,

Kai Ta(j)i]vai, irapa to pev/jLciTiov o irdXai fxev, a)<;

eoiKG, Sep/jLcioScov, Al/jlcov Be vvv KokelTar irepljyv

ev Tft> ArjfioaOAuovs îO) yeypcLTTTai. âivovTai, Be

fjLTjBe êcaakiav dTrpayfiovo)^ at ÂfjLa^6ve<: BteX-

Oovaar tclôc jdp avTwv eTi kol vvv BeLKvvvTai

irepX Trjv X/coTova-auav /cat Ta? K.vpo<; K€(f)a\,d<;.

XXVIII. TavTa /xev ovv dîa fivrjiMq^ irepl

tS>v Âfjiaôvcov. fjv yap 6 t^9 STjarjiBo^ TroirjTrjf;

ÂfjLaôvcov eTravda^daivjî&^^ê, Sijael yafiovv-

Ti âiBpav T?}9 ÂvTioTTTj'; i7nTi6efjL€vr}<; koX t5)v

/Lt€T* avTrj<; Âjiaôvwv d/jLvvofievcov koI KT€ivovTO<;

avTa^ *iipaK\eov<!f 7r€pi(j>ava><; eoixe /jlvOco kol

2 irXdarpiaTL. t^9 Be 'AyTiOTr?;? aTToOavova'qf; eyrjiie

âiBpaVy exôv vIov'IttttoXvtov i^'AvTioirr)';, 0)9 Be

JlivBapo'^ (f)7)aL, Ar]jjiO(f)(ovTa. Ta9 Be rrepX TavTrjv

Kal TOV vlov avTOv Bva'TV)(^La<i, iirel /JiijBev dvTi-

64

THESEUS, xxviT. 5-xxviii. 2

solemn treaty is attested not only by the naming of

the place adjoining the Theseum, which is called

Horcomosium,! but also by the sacrifice which, in

ancient times, was offered to the Amazons before

the festival of Theseus. And the Megarians, too,

show a place in their country where Amazons were

buried, on the way from the market-place to the

place called Rhus," where the Rhomboid ^ stands.

And it is said, likewise, that others of them died

near Chaeroneia, and were buried on the banks of

the little stream which, in ancient times, as it seems,was called Thermodon, but nowadays, Haemon ;

concerning which names I have written in my Life

J)6fDemosthenes.^ It appears also that not even

Thessaly was traversed by the Amazons without

opposition, for Amazonian graves are to this dayshown in the vicinity of Scotussa and Cynoscephalae.XXVIII. So much, then, is worthy of mention

\y regarding the Amazons. For the " Insurrection of

y{ the Amazons," written by the author of the Theseid,

telling how, when Theseus married Phaedra, Antiopeand the Amazons who fought to avenge her attacked

him, and were slain by Heracles, has every appear-ance of fable and invention. Theseus did, indeed,

marry Phaedra, but this was after the death of

Antiope, and he had a son by Antiope, Hippolytus,or, as Pindar says,^ Demophoon. As for the calami-

ties which befell Phaedra and the son of Theseus byAntiope, since there is no conflict here between

^ From the oaths of ratification.* *'

Stream," because water from the mountains above the

city once flowed this way. Pausanias, i. xli. 2. The•• Rhomboid" may have been an irregular mound.

'Chapter xix. * In a passage not extant.

65

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

tniTreL irapa tcov LorropL/ccov roi^ rpaytfcoc^, ovrco^

exîi^ O^reov o)? eKelvot Treiroi'^Kacnv airavre'^.

XXIX. EtVl [xevToi XoyoL irepl yd/icov ©T^cretu?

Kal erepoi, rrjv aKJjvrjv hiairej>€vy6Te^, ovre apx^'i

€vyv(Ofwva<; ovre GUTwêt? reXevra^ eôvTe^, Koi

yap Âva^co TLva TpoL^rjvlav dpirdcraL Xeêrat,Kal ^Lviv diroKTeiva^ Kal KepKvova avyyeviaOai

Pia Tat<; dvyarpdcnv avroov yrj/jLac Be Kal Yiepi-

ôiav rrjv Atavro's firjTepa Kal êpeôiav avOi,<;

2 Kal ^loTTTjv TTfV ^l^LKXkov^;' Kal Bid Tov Aty\r]<;

epcora T779 T[avo7re(o<;, axrirep etpijrai, rrjv ÂpidB-

vr]<; diTokefy^LV alrtcovrat firj KaXrjv yeveaOau firjBe

TTpeirovcrav' eVt Trdav Be rrjv Ê\evr}<^ dpirayrjv

iroXe/jLov fxev cnrXTjaai, tî^ Âttiki]V, avro) Be et?

(f)vyr]v Kal oXedpov reXevrrja-at' irepl a)v oXiyov

varepov elpijcreTai.

3 TloXXa)P Be Tore rol<; dplaTOi^ dOXcov yevo/xivcov

Hp6B(opo<; fiep ovBevo^^ôtercu rov Srjaea /jLcra-

cr)(elvy dXXd /jl6voi<: AairiOai'^ Trj<; Kevravpofia-

%fca9* erepot Be Kal jierd *ldaovo<; iv Ko\yo^?yeveaOai Kal MeXedypo) avveêXelv tov KdirpovKal Btd TovTO Trapoi/jLLav elvat Tr)v "Ouk dvev

0?7o-6(W9*" avTOV fievrot fjirjBevo<; (Tv/j./jLdxov Berj-

Oevra ttoXXov^ xal KaXoit^; d6Xov<; Karepydaa-aOat, Kal rov ""AW09 ovTO<i 'UpaKX^^;

"Xoyov eir

4 eKsivov Kparrjaai. avveirpaê Be Kal 'ABpdcrra)

TTjv dvalpeaiv tcov vtto ttj KaBfieua irecrovToyv,

66

Ah<

THESEUS, XXVIII. 2-xxix. 4

historians and tragic poets, we must suppose that thej

happened as represented by the poets uniformly.XXIX. There are, however, other stories also about

marriages of Theseus which were neither honourable

in their beginnings nor fortunate in their endings,lut these have not been dramatised. For instance,

he is said to have carried off Anaxo, a maiden of

Troezen, and after slaying Sinis and Cercyon to have

ravished their daughters; also to have married

Periboea, the mother of Aias, and Phereboea after-

wards, and lope, the daughter of Iphicles ; andbecause of his passion for Aegle, the daughter of

Y Panopeus, as I have already said,^ he is accused of^ the desertion of Ariadne, which was not honourable

nor even decent ; and finally, his rape of Helen is

said to have filled Attica with war, and to have

brought about at last his banishment and death, of

which things I shall speak a little later.

Of the many exploits performed in those days by\ the bravest men, Herodorus thinks that Theseus took

part in none, except that he aided the Lapithae in^ their war with the Centaurs ; but others say that he

was not only with Jason at Colchis^^HSut helpedMeleager to slay the Calydonian boar, and that hencearose the proverb "Not without Theseus" ; that he

himself, however, without asking for any ally, per-formed many glorious exploits, and that the phrase" Lo ! another Heracles

"became current with refer-

ence to him. He also aided Adrastus in recoveringfor burial the bodies of those who had fallen before

the walls of the Cadmeia,^ not by mastering the

*Chapter xx. 1.

^ In quest of the golden fleece.» The citadel of Thebes.

67

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

oy% CO? KvpL7rlB7](; iTTOLTjcrev iv rpayrpSia, fid-)(y

tS)v Sr)l3aL(ov KpaTrjaa<;y ak\a ireiaa'^ koI airsL-

(rd/i€VO<;' ovtco yap ol 7r\€ZaTOi~Xi~ymJiUL.^tX6-

Xopo<i Be Koi a-irovBa^ irepl ve/cpcov dvatpecr€(D<^

5 'yeveaOat irponTa^ eKeiva^. ore oe 'llpaK\7]<; irpay-

T09 cLTriZcoKe v6Kpov<; toI^ 7rdKepioi<;y iv rot<; irepX

*HpaK\iov^ ykypairrai, raâX Be rwv pev iroX-

\cov iv *FjX€vOepac<; BeiKvvvrai, rcov Be rjyepôvcov

irepl *R\ev(7tvay koI tovto ©770-60)9 ÂBpaa-rw

yâpLcrapêvov. fcarapapTVpovcn Be rcov YiVpiiriBov

'iKerlBcov ol Ai(T')(v\ov ^RXevaLvioif iv 0I9 fcal

ravra Xiycov 6 @7]aev<; TreiroLrjTat.

XXX. Trjv Be 7r/3o? Tieipidovv <^tXiav rovrov

Tov rpoTTov avTcp yeveadai Xiyovai. Boâv el'êv

iirl p(op,rj Koi dvBpeia p£yiorTr]V' 'ôvXopevo^ ovv

6 JleipLOov^; iêXeyâi xal Xaffelv BiaTreipav,

rfXaaaTO ôv<; iK MapaOcbvo^ avrov, koL irvdo-

p€vo<i BtctiKeiv perd twv ottXcov eKelvov ovk ecpvyev,

2 dXX* dvaarpi'yâf; dirrjVTTjcrev. co? Be elBev dre-

po^ rov erepov /cat ro fcdXXo^ i6avp,acre koI ttjv

roXpuav rjydaOT), p^d^V^ /^^^ eaxovro, Tieipidov^Be irporepo'^ rrjv Be^tdv Trporeiva^ exeXevaev avrov

yeveaOat Bi/caarrjv top %7]aea tt}? ^07}XaaLa<;'€Kcbv yap vcpeêiv rjv av opLcrrf BiKrjv iKelvo^'

®7]aev<i Be Kal rrjv Btfcrjv d(f)r]K€V avrSi Kal Trpov-KaXelro <îXov elvau Kal avppa'xpv iiroLTjaavToBe T7]v (fnXiav evop/cov,

3 'Ea: Be TovTOv yapuSyv 6 Tieipi6ov<; Ar]lBdp,eiaVy

eBerjOrj rov Srâ-ioyi iXOetv Kal ttjv X^P^^ IcttO'

68

THESEUS, XXIX. 4-xxx. 3

>( Thebans in battle, as Euripides has it in his tragedy,^but by persuading them to a truce ; for so most

> writers say, and Philochorus adds that this M^as the

first truce ever made for recovering the bodies of

K those slain in battle, although in the accounts of

YHeracles it is w^ritten that Heracles v^^as the first to

give back their dead to his enemies. And the gravesof the greater part of those vv^ho fell before Thebesare shown at Eleutherae, and those of the com-manders near Eleusis^ and this last burial was a

V favour which Theseus showed to Adrastus. The\/ account of Euripides in his "Suppliants"^ is disproved

\ by that of Aeschylus in his "Eleusinians,"

^ whereTheseus is made to relate the matter as above.

XXX. The friendship of Peirithoiis and Theseusis said to have come about in the following manner.Theseus had a very great reputation for strengthand bravery, and Peirithoiis was desirous of making-test and proof of it. Accordingly, he drove Theseus's

cattle away from Marathon, and when he learned

that their OAvner was pursuing him in arms, he did

not fly, but turned back and met him. When, how-

ever, each beheld the other with astonishment at his

beauty and admiration of his daring, they refrained

from battle, and Peirithoiis, stretching out his handthe first, bade Theseus himself be judge of his

robbery, for he would willingly submit to any penaltywhich the other might assign. Then Theseus not

only remitted his penalty, but invited him to be a

friend and brother in arms ; whereupon they ratified

their friendship with oaths.

After this, when Peirithoiis was about to marryDeidameia, he asked Theseus to come to the wedding,

»Svpplianf.8, 653 ff.

* Verses 1213 ff.» Not extant.

69

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

p7J<rat fcal a-vyyevicrdai roL9 AairLOai^. irvy^jCLve

Be Kol T0U9 lêvTavpov^ k€k\7]kco<; iirl to BecTrvov.

0)9 Be rjffekyaivov v^pec koI fieOvovre^; ovk airei-

ypVTO TO)v yvvaiKOdv, erpdiTOVTO irpo'^ dpLvvavol AaTTiOar kol tou? pêv e/creivav avrcov, roit^

Be TToXepo) KpaTi]aavTe<; varepov iêâkov etc t?)?

')(ot>pa^,Tov ©i/creft)? avTo2<; avpLpuaôpLevov Koi

arvpLTTokepLOvvToî. *}ip68copo^ Be ravra TrpaxOijval

(f)7)(Tiv ovx ovTCi)<;, aWd rod iroXepuov avvearSyro^

TjBrj TOV @7j(rea ôrjOovvra toI<; AairWaK; irapa-

yevecrOai, Koi Tore Trpcorov o-xjrei yvwpia-ai tov

*}lpaK\ia, irotTjadfievov epyov ivTvêlv avTa> irepX

Tpax^va ireiravpbevfp Trkdvr]^ rjBri koI dOXcov

yeveaOai Be pLeTct rz/t^? kuI îX,o^po(TvvT)<^ kol

TToWSyv irn-aCvcov dpucôTepoL^ ttjv evTevîv. ov

pLrjv dWd pboXKov dv r^? irpba^ôi tol<; iroWdKL^

evTV')(€LV avToifî dXXtjXoL^} '^^"ôpovav koX ttjv

pLvrjaiv 'HpaKXet yeveaOai Srjaeo)^ (T7rovBd(TavTO<;

Kol TOV irpo Trj<i pLvrjaecdî KaOappuov o)? Beopbivq}

Bid TLva^ irpdêiî dôvX7]Tov<;.

XXXI. "HBt) Be TTevTrjKOVTa CTrj yeyovdxi, o)?

^'rîiL^^pyXdvLKO^, eirpaê to, irepl ttjv 'EXevr)v,

ov KaG* oipav, o6ev 0)9 Br] p,eyi(TT0V iiravopOov'

puevoi, TOVTO tS)v eyKXrjpdToyv, evio t, Xeyovaiv

OVK avTOv dpirdaai ttjv 'EXevrjv, dXXd "iSa

Kal AvyKe(o<; dpTraadvTcov TrapaKaTaOijKrjv \a-

fiovTa TTjpelv Koi pur] TTpoteadai Toh AioaKovpoi*;

aTraiTovaiv' ^ vr^ Ala TvvBdpeo) irapaBovTo^

70

THESEUS, XXX. 3-xxxi. i

and see the country, and become acquainted with the

Lapithae. Now he had invited the Centaurs also to

the wedding feast. And when these were flown withinsolence and wine, and laid hands upon the women,the Lapithae took vengeance upon them. Some of

them they slew upon the spot, the rest they after-

wards overcame in war and expelled from the

country, Theseus fighting with them at the banquetand in the war. Herodorus, however, says that this

was not how it happened, but that the war was

already in progress when Theseus came to the aid of

the Lapithae ; and that on his way thither he hadhis first sight of Heracles, having made it his business

to seek him out at Trachis, where the hero was already

resting from his wandering and labours; and he

says the interview passed with mutual expressions of

honour, friendliness, and generous praise. Notwith-

standing, one might better side with those historians

\ who say that the heroes had frequent interviews with

•^ one another, and that it was at the instigation of

Theseus that Heracles was initiated into the mysteriesat Eleusis, and purified before his initiation, when he

Vrequested it on account of sundry rash acts.

XXXL Theseus was already fifty years old, accord-

ing to Hellanicus, when he took part in the rape of

Helen, who was not of marriageable age. Wherefore

^^ome writers, thinking to correct this heaviest

accusation against him, say that he did not carry off

Helen himself, but that v/hen Idas and Lynceus hadcarried her off, he received her in charge andwatched over her and would not surrender her to

the Dioscuri ^ when they demanded her ; or, if youwill believe it, that her oAvn father, Tyndareiis,

* Castor and Pollux, her brothers.

71

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avTov, <l>oP7)0evTO^ *Evapa(j)6pov rov *l7r7roK6(ov-

T09 €Ti vTjTTLav ovcrav piat,6jJL€vov rr)v 'EXivrjv

Xaêlv. ra Se elKora Kal ifKeiaTOv^ eôvrafidpTvpa<; Toiavrd eaTiv,

2 '^lAXOov fiev eh XTrdpTqv dp^cporepoi Kal rrjv

Koprjv iv lepy 'Apre/i^ô? 'Op^ta? x^pevovaavdpTTObaavre^ ecjivyov tmv he irep^Ôevrayv iirl rrjv

Sicoîv ov iroppcoripo) Teyea^ iTraKoXovdrjaavTO^v,iv dheia yevofievoi Kal hiekOovre^; ttjv TlekoTrop-

V7](Tov i'iTOLi](Tavro (TVvOi^Ka^y Tov p.ev \ayovTaKX7]p(p TTjv 'EXivrjv e%6ti^ jvvacKa, o-vpLTrpaTreiv

3 Be daTep(p ydpLOv aXKov. eirl TavTat<; Be KXrjpov-

[xevcov Ta?9 6/JLo\oytaL<; eka')(e Srjdeix;' Kal irapa-

Xaôov rrjp irapdevov ovTrco ydficop &pav eôvaavel^ *A(f)LBva<i eKopîae' Kal rrjv firjrepa Karaa-TTjaa^

fieT avrP]^ ÂcplBvo) 7rapeB(OK€V ovri <îXwy Bia-

KeXevadjjbevo^ (bvXdrreiv Kal XavOdveiv rov? aX-

4 Xou9. avTO'i Be UetpiOfo ttjv virovpyiav diroBiBov'^,

eU "YiireLpov crvva'rreBrjfJbTjaev iirl ttjv ÂiBcoveccx;

dvyarepa rov MoXoacrcov âcnXe(o<;, o? rj} yvvatKl

êp(re(f)6v7}v 6vop.a defjuevo^;, K.6pr]v Be rfj Ovyarpi,Tw Be Kvvl K.epêpov, eKeXeve tovto) Biap,d^€a0aiTou? fjbvcopbevovf; rrjv TracBa Kal XajSelv rov Kparrj-(Tavra, rov<} /jLevroi irepl tov TieipiOovv ov /xvtj-

aTTjpa^ rjKeiVy aW' apTraaofxepovf; TrvvOavofievo^

avviXa/Se' Kal tov pev TLeipiOovv evOu<} 7](j)dvi(T6

hia tov Kvvoî TOV Be Srja-ia KaOeipâ'i e(f)vXaTTev.XXXIL 'Ev Be t& y^pov^ TOVT(p MeveaOev^; 6

TLerecD rov *Opveci}<; rov ÊpexOeco^ 7rpa>T0<;, w£^.^âaiv, dv6pa>Tra)v iiTi,6eêvo<i r^ Brjpiaywyelv Kal

72~

THESEUS, XXXI. 2-xxxii. i

entrusted her to Theseus, for fear of Enarsphorus,the son of Hippocoon, who sought to take Helen byforce while she was yet a child. But the most

probable account, and that which has the mostwitnesses in its favour, is as follows.

Theseus and Peirithoiis went to Sparta in company,seized the girl as she was dancing in the temple of

Artemis Orthia, and fled away with her. Their

pursuers followed them no farther than Tegea, andso the two friends, when they had passed through

Peloponnesus and were out of danger, made a com-

pact with one another that the one on whom the

lot fell should have Helen to wife, but should assist

the other in getting another wife. With this mutual

understanding they cast lots, and Theseus won, and

taking the maiden, who was not yet ripe for marriage,

conveyed her to Aphidnae. Here he made his

mother a companion of the girl, and committed both

to Aphidnus, a friend of his, with strict orders to

guard them in complete secrecy. Then he himself,to return the service of Peirithoiis, journeyed with

him to Epirus, in quest of the daughter of Aidoneusthe king of the Molossians. This man called his wife

Phersephone, his daughter Cora, and his dog Cerberus,with which beast he ordered that all suitors of his

daughter should fight, promising her to him that

should overcome it. However, when he learned that

Peirithoiis and his friend were come not to woo, but

to steal away his daughter, he seized them both.

Peirithoiis he put out of the way at once by means of

the dog, but Theseus he kept in close confinement.

XXXn. Meanwhile Menestheus, the son of Peteos,

grandson of Orneus, and great-grandson of Erech-

theus, the first of men, as they say, to affect popularity

73

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

7rpo<; %«/?i^' 0')(X(p BiaXeyeaOai, tov<^ re hwarovî

avvia-TTj koI irapco^vve, iraXai papvvofievov<; rov

Srjaia koX vopbiôvTa^ ^PXV^ '^^^ PacriKeiav a<^r)-

pt]fi€Vov e/cdcrrou rcov Kara Bij/iov evTrarpiScov, et?

ep ddTV arvveipâvra 7rdvTa<; virr]K6ot<; ')(p7]a6ai,koX

hoiikoi^, T0U9 T6 TToXKoi)^ SierdpaTTe fcal BtiâX-

Xev, 0)9 ovap i\€vOepia<; opcopraî, ^PJ^ ^^ direcrre-

prjfievov^ TrarplBcov ical lepfav, oiro)^ dvrX iroWoyv

fcal dyad(ov Kal fyprjaiav âaiXecov tt/jo? Gva Be-

2 aTTOTtjv eirrfKvv Kal êvov diro^XiTrcoai. ravra

he avTov Trpayfiareuo/Jbivov pbeydXTjv poirijv 6 tto-

Xefio<; Tw vecdrepKTfiw TrpoaeOrjKCj tmv TvvBapiSayv

iireXOovrcov* ol he icdtt^î^kccis.^âalji^vTTo tovtov

7rei(T6evTa<; iX6elv,

To /Liev ovv irpSiTOV ovSev -^Blkovv, dXX* aTrprovv

TTjv aScXc^Tyi;. diroKpivap.evoiv he tcop ev dcTTei

pLTjTC ex^tv pjTjre yivcoa/ceiv ottov KaraXeXeLTTTai,,

3 7r/)09 TToXefjLov irpdirovro. (ppdêc Be avTOL<; 'A/ca-

Br}/jLO(; yaOrj/jLevof; m St; tlvi, Tpoircp ttjv ev 'A(J3LSvaL<;

Kpv^lnv avTrj<i. oOev ifceivcp re rifial ^covri, irapd

rcov TvvBapiBojv eyevovro, koX rroXXdKi^; varepov

619 rrjv *AmKr)v €/jLâX6vre<; AaKeBatfiovioi koI

TTciaav ofiov rrjv '^(^(opav repLVOvre^;, t^9 'AKaBr]pe[a<;

4d'TTei')(ôvro Bid rov ÂKaBypuov, 6 Be AiKaLapxo<;

Ft')(êBi]p,ov^ <f>'qa\ xal ISlapdOov a-varpareuadvrcov^

'Ex^Hfiov with CoraSs, Sintenis*, and Bekker, after

Xylander : 'Ex^fJi-ov,

74

A

THESEUS, xxxii. 1-4

Liid ingratiate himself with the multitude, stirred upand embittered the chief men in Athens. These had

long been hostile to Theseus, and thought that he

had robbed each one of the country nobles of his

royal office,^ and then shut them all up in a single

city, where he treated them as subjects and slaves.

The common people also he threw into commotion

by his reproaches. They thought they had a vision

of liberty, he said, but in reality they had beenrobbed of their native homes and religions in order

that, in the place of many good kings of their ownblood, they might look obediently to one masterwho was an immigrant and an alien. While he wasthus busying himself, the Tyndaridae^ came upagainst the city, and the war greatly furthered his

seditious schemes; indeed, some writers say outright

that he persuaded the invaders to come.At first, then, they did no harm, but simply

demanded back their sister. When, however, the

people of tlie city replied that they neither had the

girl nor knew where she had been left, they resorted

to war. But Academus, who had learned in some

way or other of her concealment at Aphidnae, told

them about it. For this reason he was honoured

during his life by the Tyndaridae, and often after-

wards when the Lacedaemonians invaded Attica andlaid waste all the country round about, they sparedthe Academy,^ for the sake of Academus. ButDicaearchus says that Echedemus and Marathus of

* Cf. chapter xxiv. 1-3.2 Or Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux.3 A shady precinct near the river Cephissus, about a mile

N.W. of Athens. Here Plato and his disciples taught. See

Cimon, xiii. 8.

75

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rore rot? TvvSapiBa[,<; i^ ÂpKahia<^, a<^ ov fiev

^^Xe^rjfjiiav TrpoaayopevOr/vat ttjv vuv ^KKahrj-

fxeiaVy a(f>'ov Se MapaOcova rbv BrjfA,op, iirihovrof;

eavTov €fcov<Tico<; Kara ri \6yiov (T(f>ajuz(Taadai

irpo T^9 Trapardêcoî.

^Kk06vT€<; ovv iirl Ta<; *A<j)LBva^ Kal p^XV6 Kpar7]oravT6<i eêTS,ov to %a)/Otoi/. ivravOd (paatKal 'AXvKov Treaelv rov ^Keipcovo^ vlov, avarpa-

reuojjievov Tore rot? ^loaKovpoL^y d<j) ov ical tottov

rrj^ MeyapiK7}<; "ÂXvkov KaXeurdai tov <r(t)/jLaTO<;

evTa(f)6VT0<;. 'Hpea? 8' viro %r}(Tew^ avrov irepl

'A(^tSi;a9 diroOaveiV tov "AXvkov laToprjfce, Kal

fjbapTvpLa TavTL ra eirr} 7rape)(eTai irepl tov

*A\VK0U'

TOV iv evpvxop^ ttot ÂcftlBvrj

fiapvdp,evov S7]a-€V<; 'EiXevT]^ eveic rjVKop.oio

KTelvev.

Ov pA)v 6tVo9 avTOV @??<7ea)9 TrapovTO^ dXcavai tyjv

T€ jiii)Tipa Kal Ta9 ÂîBva<;,

XXXIII. Êxofievcov S' ovv rcav ÂcptBvcov Kal

Twv iv a(7T€i BeSioTcov, eireKTe tov Stj/jlov 6 Mezê-

aOev^ BexeaOai Tp iroXet Kal (j)i\o(j)poveLaOac

TOL'9 TuvSapiBa^;, co9 pôvqy Sijael j3ia<; virdpâvTi

TToXepLovvraf;, tcov Be dXXcov evepyeTa<; 6vTa<;j

dvOpcoTTcov Kal a(OTrjpa<;. ipapTvpei Be avro) Kal

TCL Trap' eKeivcov ovBev yap rj^lcoaav diravrcov 16

Kparovvre^ a\V r) /jLvrjOijvai, /iTjBev rJTTOV 'Hpa-2 KXiov<i T^ iroXei irpoariKOVTe^* Kal tovto ovv

76

THESEUS, XXXII. 4-xxxiii. 2

Arcadia were in the army of the Tjrndaridae at that

time, from the first of whom the present Academywas named Echedemia, and from the other, the

township of Marathon, since in accordance withsome oracle he voluntarily gave himself to be sacri-

ficed in front of the line of battle.

To Aphidnae, then, they came, won a pitched\^ battle, and stormed the town. Here they say that

among others Alycus, the son of Sciron, who was at

that time in the army of the Dioscuri, was slain,

and that from him a place in Megara where he was

y^ buried is called Alycus. But Hereas writes thatA Alycus was slain at Aphidnae by Theseus himself,

and cites in proof these verses about Alycus :—

"whom once in the plain of Aphidnae,

Y Where he was fighting, Theseus, ravisher of fair-

haired Helen,Slew/'

However, it is not likely that Theseus himself was

present when both his mother and Aphidnae were

captured.XXXni. At any rate, Aphidnae was taken and

the city of Athens was full of fear, but Menestheus

persuaded its people to receive the Tyndaridae into

the city and show them all manner of kindness,since they were waging war upon Theseus alone, wholiad committed the first act of violence, but werebenefactors and saviours of the rest of mankind.And their behaviour confirmed his assurances, for

although they were masters of everything, theydemanded only an initiation into the mysteries,since they were no less closely allied to the city thanHeracles. This privilege was accordingly granted

vol.. I. T^ 77

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

VTTTJpêv avTOL^, ÂcpiBvov TTOtrjcrafievou TratSa?,

ft)9 IluXio? *HpaK\ea' /cal rifia^ laodeov; ecrxov,

"AvaKB^; TrpoaayopevOevTCf;, rj Sta tcl^ yevo/jieva';

avox^^ V ^^^ '^V^ iTTt/JueXecav xal KrjSe/noviav rod

fiTjBeva KaKQ)<i iraOelv a-rparid^ TOcravTrjf; evZov

ova-T]^' avafcm yap exîv tou? iirLfieXofievov^ rj

(pv\dTTOVTa<; otlovv kol tov<; /Qao'tXet? tcro)?

avaicTa^ Bia tovto KaXovcnv. elal Be ol Xeyovre^

BiCL TTjv tS)v aarepcov iirKJidveiav "Ai/a/ca? ovo/jba-

êaOar to yap avco rov^ Âttikov<; dveKa<; ovo-

fid^cLV, Kol dvifcadev ro dvcoOev.

XXXIV. AiOpav Be rr)V ®7}(Teco<; fir^repa yevo-

fievrjv alx/^XcoTov dirax^V^^'' Xeyovatv eh Aaxe-

Bat/jLova, /cd/celOev eh TpoCav fierd *E\evr)^' kol

âpTvpelv "0^7)pov, eireaOat, rfj *Ft\evrj (j)dfievov*

AWprjv UtrOrjo'; Ovyarpa KXvjjievTjv re /Socjttiv.

"^ Ol Be /cal tovto to eVo? BiaPdXkovai Ka\ ttjv

rrrepX yiovvvxoy ixvOoXoyiav, ov ex AtjfjLocpcovTo^

AaoBiKr)<; Kpvcpa Te/covar]<; iv *IXta) o-vveKOpe-yjrai

2 Tr)V AWpav Xeyovatv. lBlov Be Tiva fcal iraprfK-

Xayjjbevov 0X0)9 \6yov 6 "laTpc; iv Trj TpiaKai-

BeKdTj} TMV Âttikcov dva(f>ipei~7r€pl AWpa^;, ay;

evicov XeyovTcov ÂXeâvBpov fxev tov Hdpiv iv

%eaaa\ia ûtt* 'Ap^tXXeo)? fcal HaTpoxXov fidxv

KpaTTjOrjvaL irapa tov XTrepxî'OV, "FiKTopa Be

Tr]V Tpoi^TjVLWv iToXiv XaôvTa Biapirdaai Ka\

* rhv ndpiv 4v @ea<raXlay with Bekker : rhv 4v OecrcroAfot

ndpiv.

78

V

^

THESEUS, XXXIII. 2-xxxiv. 2

them, after they had been adopted by Aphidnus, as

Pylius had adopted Heracles. They also obtained

honours like those paid to gods, and were addressed

as"Anakes," either on account of their stopping

hostilities, or because of their diligent care that noone should be injured, although there was such a

large army within the city ; for the phrase" anakos

echein"

is used of such as care for, or guard any-

thing, and perhaps it is for this reason that kings are

called "Anaktes." There are also those who saythat the Tyndaridae were called "Anakes" becauseof the appearance of their twin stars in the heavens,since the Athenians use "anekas

"and "anekathen

"

for '^ano" and "anothen," signifying above or on

high.XXXIV. They say that Aethra, the mother of

Theseus, who was taken captive at Aphidnae, wascarried away to Lacedaemon, and from thence to

Troy with Helen, and that Homer ^ bears witness to

this when he mentions as followers of Helen :—

" Aethra of Pittheus born, and Clymene large-eyedand lovely."

S^ But some reject this verse of Homer's, as well as

the legend of Munychus, who was born in secret to

Laodice from Demophoon, and whom Aethra helpedto rear in Ilium. But a very peculiar and whollydivergent story about Aethra is given by Ister in thethirteenth book of his "Attic History." Somewrite, he says, that Alexander (Paris) was overcomein battle by Achilles and Patroclus in Thessaly,along the banks of the Spercheius, but that Hectortook and plundered the city of Troezen, and carried

^Iliad, iii. 144.

I 79

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T^y AWpav dirdyeiv CKet KaTakeiÔelorav* aXkaTOVTO fjL€V e%€^ TToXXrjv oXoyiav,XXXV. *AtS(ove(o<: Be rod MoXocrcroO êvi-

foz/TO? 'Hpa/cXea koI tcov irepl top Srja-ia Kal

HeipiOovv /card tvxh^ fivrjcOivToîy d re irpd-

foi/T€9 rfkOov Kal d (pcopadevre^ eiraOov, âpia^'qvey/cev 6 'Hpa/cX?)?, tov fiev d7ro\o)\6TO<i d86^(o<;,

Tov Be dTroWvfjiivov, Kal irepl lieipldov fiev

ovBev W6T0 TTOcrjaeiv irXiov ijKaXcov, tov Be

®i](Tea TTapxiTelTO Kal %a/Ofi^ rfîov TavTrjv avT&2 BoOrivaL, (Tvyy(£)p7]aavT0^ Be tov WlBcDvea)<;, Xv-

6el<; 6 Srja-ev^ eiravrjXOe pev eh ra? ^KOrjva^,ovBeTTco TravTairaat, twv (îXoDv avTov KeKpaTrj-

pevcov, Kal ocra virrjpxe Tepêvrj irpoTepov avTw

T^9 TToXect)? eêXovarjf; diravTa Kadtepcoae tw

^HpaKXeX kciI Trpoarjyopevcrev uvtI Srjaeiayv 'Hpd-KXeia, ttXtjv TecradpcoVy w^ îX6)(opo^ laTo^ iqicev.

avOi^^ Be povX6fi6vo<; eo? irpoTepov dpxîv Koi

KaOi^yelo-Oai tov iroXiTevpâTO'; eh o-racrei? eve-

ireae Kal Tapa^d^;, ov<; p,ev direXi'ire pbcaovvTaâvTov evpLCTKcov TO

/jLT) (poêlaOaL t&> fiiaelv irpocr-

eiXrjcfyoTa^ , ev Be to) Brjp^cp iroXv to Bie(j)Oap-

pêvov opwv Kal OepaireveaOaL ôvXopievov ami3 TOV TTOielv (TicoTrfj TO TTpoaTaTTop-evov. eTTLêiprnvovv fiidêcrdat KaT6Br]p.aycoyelTO Kal KaTeaTa-

(TidêTO. Kal Te\o9 diroyvov'^ ra irpdyp.aTa tou?

pblv iralBa^ eh Evfioiav vireêirep.'ê irpo^ 'EXe-

^rjvopa TOV lâXKcoBovTo^, avTO<; Be VapyqTTolKaTa TCOV

^

AOrjvaicdv dpd<; depêvo^, ov vvv eorTi

TO KaXovpevov ^KpaTrjpiov, eh ^Kvpov eêirXevareVy^ aMis Coraes, after Reiske : tvQvs [at oncf).

8o

THESEUS, xxxiv. 2-xxxv. 3

away Aethra, who had been left there. This, how-

ever, is very doubtful.

XXXV. Now while Heracles was the guest of

Aidoneus the Molossian, the king incidentally spokeof the adventure of Theseus and Peirithoiis, tellingwhat they had come there to do, and what they hadsuffered when they were found out. Heracles was

greatly distressed by the inglorious death of the one,and by the impending death of the other. As for

Peirithoiis, he thought it useless to complain, but he

begged for the release of Theseus, and demandedthat this favour be granted him. Aidoneus yieldedto his prayers, Theseus was set free, and returned to

Athens, where his friends were not yet altogetheroverwhelmed. All the sacred precincts which the

city had previously set apart for himself, he nowdedicated to Heracles, and called them Heracleia

1^ instead of Theseia, four only excepted, as Philo-^ chorus writes. But when he desired to rule again as

before, and to direct the state, he became involvedin factions and disturbances ; he found that those

who hated him when he went away, had now addedto their hatred contempt, and he saw that a large

part of the people were corrupted, and wished to be

cajoled into service instead of doing silently what

they were told to do. Attempting, then, to force

his wishes upon them, he was overpowered bydemagogues and factions, and finally, despairing ofhis cause, he sent his children away privately into

Euboea, to Elephenor, the son of Chalcodon, whilehe himself, after invoking curses upon the Atheniansat Gargettus, where there is to this day the placecalled Araterion,^ sailed away to the island of Scyros,

^ That is, the j^Zoce of prayer, or cursing.

81

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ov(Tr)<; avTa> Trpo? tou9 i/cet (j>L\La<;, cw? wero, /cat

^(opLcov iv rfi VTjcrcp irarpajcov. iâaiXeve 8e

4 AvK0/jL^B7j<; Tore tcov ^fcupicov. tt/jo? tovtov ovv

d(j)iK6fJL6V09 i^TjTei T0U9 dypov<; diroXafBeiv, &)9

avTodi KaroiKTiaoDV' evioi Be âcn irapaKaXelvavTov ôrjOelv iirl tou9 ÂOrjvaiov^, 6 Be Avko-

fXTjBrjfiy elre Beicraf; rrjv Boâv tov dvBp6<;j ecre tS>

M-eveaOel ')(apL^6iJL€V0';, iirl rh aKpa ri)^ '^cjt)pa<;

dvayaycbv avrov, to? eKeWev iiriBeC^cov rou?

dypov^t (bae Karh tcov Trerpcov koI Bi6(f)d€tp€V.

evioL S'd(j> eavTov irecrelv (fiaai a<f)a\€VTa, fiera 17

5 BellTvoVy ataTrep elcoOei, TrepiTrarovvra. koX irapav-rl/ca fiev ovBeh ea'xev avrov \6yov ovBeva reOvrj-

k6to<;, dXka tS)V fiev ÂOrjvaicov ijSaa-lXevae

Mez/ecr^Gi;?, ol Be TratSe? lBccoTevovTe<i Ê\e(j)i]vopi

avvearpdrevaav eU "iXfor. iicel Bk MeveaOeo)^

diroOavovTo^ eTraveXOovreg avrol rr)v âaiXeiav

dveKo/jLiaavTO. %/3oyot9 3' varepov^

A6r}vaiov<^

aXKa T€ 7rape(7T7j(Tev co? 7]pQ)a rifidv (drjcrea, koI

T(ov iv yiapa6(x)vv tt/oo? Mt^Sou? fiaxo/JievcDv eBoâvovK oXCyot (fida/xa Srjaea)<i iv oTrXoi? KaOopdv irpo

avTMV iwl TOV<i fiap/3dpov(; (f}€p6/JLevov,

XXXVI. Mer^ Bk rd MrjBiKd âlBcovo^ dp-

XOVTO^ /jbavT€Vo/jLevoi<! T0t9 ÂOrjvaioL^ dvelXev r)

Uvdia rd Srja-ewf; dvakaêlv oo-rd koI 0€fjL6i'ov<;

ivTifiwf; izap avToi<s ^vXaTTeiv. ^v Be koL Xa-

êlv diropia kclv yvwvai rov rdxfiov dfiLîa fcal

')(aXe7r6T)]Ti tcov ivocKOvvTcov AoXoTrayv, ov firjv

82

THESEUS, XXXV. 3 xxxvi. i

where the people were friendly to him, as he thought,and where he had ancestral estates. Now Lycomedeswas at that time king of Scyros. To him therefore

Theseus applied with the request that his lands

should be restored to him, since he was going to

Iwell there, though some say that he asked his aid

against the Athenians. But Lycomedes, either

because he feared a man of such fame, or as a favour

to Menestheus, led him up to the high places of the

land, on pretence of showing liim from thence his

lands, threw him down the cliffs, and killed him.

VSome,however, say that he slipped and fell down

of himself while walking there after supper, as washis custom. At the time no one made any accountof his death, but Menestheus reigned as Ling at

Athens, while the sons of Theseus, as men of private

station, accompanied Elephenor on the expedition to

Ilium ; but after Menestheus died there, they cameback by themselves and recovered their kingdom.In after times, however, the Athenians were movedto honour Theseus as a demigod, especially by thefact that many of those who fought at Marathon

against the Medes thought they saw an apparition of

Theseus in arms rushing on in front of them againstthe Barbarians.^

XXXVI. And after the Median wars, in the

archonship of Phaedo,^ when the Athenians were

consulting the oracle at Delphi, they were told bythe Pythian priestess to take up the bones of

Theseus, give them honourable burial at Athens,and guard them there. But it was difficult to find

the grave and take up the bones, because of the

inhospitable and savage nature of the Dolopians,» Cf. Pausanias, i. 15, 4. « 476-475 b.o.

83

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aXka Klfiayv €\.q)V rrjv vrjaov, 0)9 iv ro2<; irepi

eKetvov êypairratt koX (ptXoTi/iiov/JLevof; iâvev-

pelVi aerov riva tottov ôvvoeihrj kotttovto^;, a>?

âcn, rip aTOfiart Koi SiacrTiWovTO<; ro2^ ovvî

2 6ela rivl rvxv o'v/Ji(j)povJ]aa<; ave^Ka'êv. evpeOr)

he OiJKT) T€ fjL€yd\ov cra)/,taT09 cilXM '^^ irapaKei-

fjiivrj x^Xktj fcal ftô?. KOfJuiadivrcov Be tovtcov

VTTO Ktficovo^; eirl t^9 rptripovî rjaOevTe^; ol^

A.Br)valoL iTopjiraZ^ re Xapbirpal^; iBeâvro koX

OvcTLai^ axTTrep avrov iiravepxopievov et? to acrrv.

Kol Keirai piev iv ^lea-rf rrj iroXei irapa ro vvv

yvp,vdaiov, ean he <j)v^LpLOv ol/cerat'; koX Trdai

Tot9 TairetvoTepoLf; koX hehioat, KpeirTova^, &)? /cat

Tov @r)(TeQ)<; irpoo-raTiKov rivo<; koX ôr)97}TiKov

ryevop4vov koX TrpoaSexofievov îXavOpcoiro)^ ra?

3 Tcoi/ raTreu'orepcov Beijcreifi. OvaLav he iroiovaiv

avTa> TYjv pLeyio-Trjp oyhor) Hvave-îoivo^y ivf)

p,eTa TO)v rjWecov eK K.p'^rr)'; iiravrfkOev. ov p>r)v

aXka Kol Ta?9 aXkaL<; 6<yh6aL^ npbSicriv avroVy rj

hia TO TTpcoTOV eK TpoL^rjvof; dîKecrdaL ttj oyhorj

TOV *EtKaTopLJ3(ica)vo^, 0)9 laroprjKe ^cohcopof; 6

7re/?«77?7T?;9, V vopLôPT€<! erepov pbaWov^K€iV(p

irpoarjKeiv tov dpiOp,bv tovtov m TiocTethcavo';

4 yeyovivai Xeyopuivcp. xal ycbp Uoaeihcova tul^

84

THESEUS, xxxvlTT

wno tnen inhabited the island. However, Cimontook the island, as I have related in his Life/ and

being ambitious to discover the grave of Theseus,saw an eagle in a place where there was the semblanceof a mound, pecking, as they say, and tearing up the

ground vnih his talons. By^oine divine ordering he

comprehended the meaning of this and dug there,and there was found a coffin of a man of extraordinarysize, a bronze spear lying by its side, and a sword.

When these relics were brought home on his

trireme by Cimon, the Athenians were delighted,and received them with splendid processions and

sacrifices, as though Theseus himself were returningto his city. And now he lies buried in the heart of

the city, near the present gymnasium,^ and his tombis a sanctuary and place of refuge for runaway slaves

and all men of low estate who are afraid of men in

power, since Theseus was a champion and helper of

such during his life, and graciously received the

supplications of the poor and needy. The chief

sacrifice which the Athenians make in his honourcomes on the eighth day of the month Pyanepsion,the day on which he came back from Crete with the

youths. But they honour him also on the eighth

day of the other months, either because he came to

Athens in the first place, from Troezen, on the

eighth day of the month Hecatombaeon, as Diodorusthe Topographer states, or because they consider

this number more appropriate for him than anyother since he was said to be a son of Poseidon.^

For they pay honours to Poseidon on the eighth day

*Chapter viii. 3-6.

2 The gymnasium of Pt-olemy. Pausanias, i. 17, 2.' Of. chapter vi. 1.

8s

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

6<yS6aL<; TLfioiaiv. rj yap 6yhoa<; Kvfio<; air* aprlov'7rp(OTO<^ ovcra koI tou Trpcorou rerpaycovov Bt-

irXaaia, to fiovvfiov kol Bvo-klvtjtov oIk€lov e'xei

TTj^ rod Oeov Sum/ieo)?, ov d<j-(pdX€tov koI yaiô-ôvTTpoaovoiid ôjjiep.

S$

THESEUS, XXXVI. 4

of every month. The number eight, as the first cubeof an even number and the double of the first square,

fitly represents the steadfast and immovable powerof this god, to whom we give the epithets of

Securer and Earth-stayer.

«<7

ROMULUS

PflMYAOS

I. To fjue^ya rr}^ ^Vwixrj^ ovofia kol So^y Sea

TrdvTcov dvOpcoTTcov Kexfoprjfcb^ d<j)* orov koL 8t

rjv alriav ry irokeL fye<yoveVf ov^ wfjuoXoyriTai

irapd To2<i o-vyypaipevaiv, aW' ol fiev HeXacryovîirl TrXetcTTa rfj<; ouKOVfievr^^; TrXavrfOevra^ dv-

dpayrrcov re irXeiarcov /cparâavraf;, avroOi Kar-

OLKTjaai, /cat Bed rrjv ev rot? ottXol^s p(t)/.ir]v

2 ovTco^ ovop^daai ttjv TroXiVy ol Be Tpoua^ dXi-

aKOfi€vr)(i Biacj)vy6vTa<; iviov<; kov TrXoLcov eVtrf-

Xovra<; virb TTvev/jbdrcov rfj Tvpprjvla irpoo-Treaetv

(êpofievov^, fcal irepl rov @vpfipiv Trorafibv oppi-GaaQai' Tal<^ Be yvvai^lv avrcop diropov/JLivaKi 18

"^Brj Koi Bv(Tava(T'XêTov(Tai<; irpo^ ttjv ddXaaaavvTToOeaOai pLiaVy fj koi ykvei irpov'êLv kol (ppovelviBoKec p^dXiara, 'V(op7]v ovopa, KaraTrprjorac TCt

3 irXola' 'irpa')(6ei'T0^ Be rovrou irpojrov pev dya-vaKielv Tov^; dvBpa<;, eireira Bl dvdyKrjv IBpvv-6evTa<^ irepl to TiaXXdvTLOv, &>? oXiycp y^pbvtp

KpelTTOv iX7r[Bo<; eirpaTTOv, dyaOrjq re 7reipcop.6vot

')(^copa<s Kcd Be'Xppevwv avToix; tcov irpoa-OLKwVy

dXXr)v T€ Tiprjv dirovepbeiv ttj *P(opT) Kai Trjv

4 ttoXlv dir* avT7]<;, oxi oiria^, irpocrayopeveLV. iêKelvov Te TrapapLevetv \eyovac to to 1/9 avyyevels

90

ROMULUS

1. From whom, and for what reason the greatname of Rome, so famous among mankind, was

given to that city, writers are not agreed. Some

say that the Pelasgians, after wandering over

most of the habitable earth and subduing most of

mankind, settled down on that site, and that fromtheir strength in war they called their city Rome.Others say that at the taking of Troy some of its

people escaped, found sailing vessels, were driven

by storms upon the coast of Tuscany, and came to

anchor in the river Tiber ; that here, while their

women were perplexed and distressed at thought of

the sea, one of them, who was held to be of superiorbirth and the greatest understanding, and whosename was Roma, proposed that they should burn the

ships1

; that when this was done, the men were

angry at first, but afterwards, when they bad settled

of necessity on the Palatine, seeing themselves in a

little while more prosperous than they had hoped,since they found the country good and the neigh-bours made them welcome, they paid high honoursto Roma, and actually named the city after her,since she had been the occasion of their foundingit. And from that time on, they say, it has been

1 Cf. Aeneid, v. 604-699.

91

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Ta9 fyvvalKa^; koI oIk€i,ov<: avSpa^; acrirdêaOai

Toi^ (TTOjiaai' Kol jap €K€iva<;, ore ra ifKoia

KaT67rpr]<7av, ovrco^; d(77rd^€<rdai /cat ^tXocfypo-

velaOai tou? dvhpa^, heo[Meva<i avrcov Kal irapat-

Tov/iivaî T)]V opyrjv,

IL "AXkoL he *Fa)p,r]v, ÎraXov Ouyarepa kol

AevKaplany ol he, T7)\i(j)ov rod 'Hyoa/cXeoi;?,

Kiveia jafMrjdelcrav, ol 8' Âafcavlov tov Alveiov,

Xeyovat rovvofia OeaOai rfj iroXei,' ol he 'Po)-

fiavov, 'OSuo-(Tect)9 iralha koX K.LpK7)<i, olKuaai rrjv

TToXcv ol he ^VodjjLov ifc Tpola^ vtto Aio/jLrjhov^

dTToaraXevra tov ^HfiaOtoyvof;, ol he ^Fcofitv

Aarlvcov rvpavvov, €fc/3a\6vTa Tvpp7)vov<; rov<}

eh Avhlav fiev e/c SerraXia';, ck he Avhla^ ehÎraXiav irapayevop.evovf;. ov fir)v ovh* ol 'Pto-

fjLvXov TO) hcKaiOTaTq) rcov Xoycov dTrocpalvovrei;

eTTCovvfiov tt}? TToXeo)? opLoXoyova-i nrepX tov2 ryevov<; avTov, ol fiev yap Alveiov Kal Ae^tOea^;

T?79 ^6pâvT0<; vlov ovTa vrjinov eh ÎraXlav

KO/jLtaOrjvai>, /cal tov dheX^bv avrov 'Fco/jlov ev

he tS) TTOTapLw irXrj/xfjLvpavTi tcov dXXwv (TKUipwv

hiacpOapevTcov, ev (o he rjaav ol iralhe^; eh fia-

XafC7]v diroKXivOevTo^; 6')(6r]v drpepa, awdevTaf;^3 d7rpoahoKi]Tco<;,'^ ovopâadrpat ^Vwprjv. ol he

*Pa)p,i]v OvyaTepa tt}? Tpcodho<^ eKeivrj^; AaTivco

Tw Tr)X€p.dxov yap7}6el(Tav reKelv tov 'Fcop^yXovol he AlpvXiav ttjv Alveiov Kal Aaîvla^ "Apei

avyyevop,evr]V' ol he pvdayhr] iravrdiraai irepl t^9

^ ffaeh'Tas MSS., Coraes, Sinteiiis\ and Bekker: (TwOevTos.*

airpoardoK-fiTws after this word, Bekker assumes a lacunain the text.

92

ROMULUS, I. 4-II. 3

customary for the women to salute their kinsmenand husbands with a kiss; for those women, after

they had burned the ships, made use of such tender

salutations as they supplicated their husbands and

sought to appease their wrath.

II. Others again say that the Roma who gave her

name to the city was a daughter of Italus and

Leucaria, or, in another account, of Telephus the

son of Heracles; and that she was married to Aeneas,

or, in another version, to Ascanius the son of Aeneas.

Some tell us that it was Romanus, a son of Odysseusand Circe, who colonized the city ; others that it was

Romus, who was sent from Troy by Diomedes theson of Emathion ; and others still that it was Romis,

tyrant of the Latins, after he had driven out the

Tuscans, who passed from Thessaly into Lydia, andfrom Lydia into Italy. Moreover, even those writers

who declare, in accordance with the most authentic

tradition, that it was Romulus who gave his name to

the city, do not agree about his lineage. For some

say that he was a son of Aeneas and Dexithea the

daughter of Phorbas, and was brought to Italy in his

infancy, along with his brother Romus ; that the rest

of the vessels were destroyed in the swollen river,

but the one in which the boys were was gentlydirected to a grassy bank, where they were unex-

pectedly saved, and the place was called Roma fromthem. Others say it was Roma, a daughter of the

Trojan woman I have mentioned, who was wedded to

Latinus the son of Telemachus and bore himRomulus; others that Aemilia, the daughter of Aeneasand Lavinia, bore him to Mars ;

and others still

rehearse what is altogether fabulous concerning his

93

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

y€veo-€co<; Sce^laa-L. Ta/3%€Ttct) yap ÂX/Savcov

âcTiXei irapavofKOTaTW koI ayfiordra) (fedafia

haifiovLov oIkoi yeveadar cfyaXkov yap i/c t^9

€aTia<s avaay/iv koX hiapLeveLV iirl iroXXa'^ rj/iepa^;'

4 eliai Be TrjOvo^ iv TvpprjVLa ^PV^'^VP^^^' ^^' ^^

KOfJLiadrjvaL tw Tap-êrtq) ')(p7j(Tfiovcjcrre avfi-

filial, T(p (pda-fjuari, nrapOivov' eaeadai yap ef

avTrj(; iraiSa /cXeivorarov apery Ka\ Tv^rj koI

pcofjLTj Bia(f)6povTa. <l)pdcravTO<; ovv ro fidvrevfia

Tov Tapxerlov pita rcov Ouyaripcov Kal avy-

yeveaOai too <paXXu> TrpocrrdâvTO'^, avTrjv pev5 diraîwdaif depdiracvav he elairepi-âi, tov 8e

Tapx^TLov, ci)9 eyvco, %aX€7rw9 <f)epovTa avXXaêcp

fiev dp(f)OTepa<i eVl Oavdrw, rrjv S* 'Ecrrtaz/ Ihovra

Kara tou? vttvov^ drrayopevovaav avrtp rov

<f)6vov, larov nva Trapeyyvrjcrat, ral<; Kopaiî

vcpaCveLv BeBepuivaL^;, co? orav iû<f)^voiy(Tiy rore

Bo67j(ropeva<; 7rpb<; ydpov, eKeiva<i puev ovv Bl

r)pepa<; vcpaiveLV, erepa^ Be vvKrwp rov Tap-')(erLov fceXevovro'; dvaXveiv rov larov. i/c Be rov

(paXXov rrj<; OepaTraivLBofi reKOvat]^ BlBvpia, Bovval

riVL TepariM rov Tapx^nov dveXelv KeXevaavra*6 rov Be Oelvai (f)epovra rov rrorapLov TrXrja-iov

elra XvKaLvav pev eirLcfyOLrdv pLacrrov evBiBovaav,

opvi6a<i Be TravroBairov^ '^copbiapiara Kop,LôuTa<i

evridevai to69 Ppeêaiv, dxpi' ov ôvkoXov IBovra

Ka\ 6avp,d(Tavra roXp^rjaai rrpoaeXdelv Kal dve-

XeaOai ra rraihia. roiavrr}<; Be t^9 o-o)rr]pia<;

avrol^ yevopLev7]<;, cKrpacpevra^ eiriOecyOai rw

Tapx^TLO) Kal Kparriaau ravra piev ovv Upo- 19

94

ROMULUS, II. 3-6

origin. For instance, they say that Tarchetius, kingof the Albans, who was most lawless and cruel,

was visited with a strange phantom in his house,

namely, a phallus rising out of the hearth and remain-

ing there many days. Now there was an oracle of

Tethys in Tuscany, from which there was brought to

Tarchetius a response that a virgin must have inter-

course with this phantom, and she should bear a son

most illustrious for his valour, and of surpassing goodfortune and strength. Tarchetius, accordingly, told

the prophecy to one of his daughters, and bade herconsort with the phantom ; but she disdained to do

so, and sent a handmaid in to it. When Tarchetius

learned of this, he was wroth, and seized both the

maidens, purposing to put them to death. But the

goddess Hestia appeared to him in his sleep and for-

bade him the murder. He therefore imposed uponthe maidens the weaving of a certain web in their

imprisonment, assuring them that wlien they hadfinished the weaving of it, they should tlien be givenin marriage. By day, then, these maidens wove, but

by night other maidens, at the command of Tarche-

tius, unravelled their web. And when the handmaidbecame the mother of twin children by the phantom,Tarchetius gave them to a certain Teratius withorders to destroy them. This man, however, carried

them to the river-side and laid them down there.

Then a she-wolf visited the babes and gave themsuck, while all sorts of birds brought morsels of foodand put them into their mouths, until a cow-herd

spied them, conquered his amazement, ventured to

come to them, and took the children home with him.Thus they were saved, and when they were grownup, they set upon Tarchetius and overcame him.

95

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fjuaOicav ri^ IcTOplav ÎraXLKrjv avvT€TaryfjL€vos

eiprjKe.

III. Tov Be iritniv €')(pino^ \6yov fiaXiara koi

irXeiarov^ fidpTvpa<; tcl fiev Kvpccorara Trpwro? ekTou? "KXXrjvaf; iêScoKe AtofcXi}^ HeirapiÔio^y SKoi <^dîo<; 6 Hlktcop iv roh ifKeiGTOL^ iin^KO'

\ovO't]K€. yeyovaat Be /cal irepl tovtcov erepai2 Biacjôpal' tvitw Be elirelv toôOto? eVrt. twj' aTr

Alveiov 'ye'yovoTOdv ev "AX^r) ffacriXecov el^ dBeX-

(j)ov^ Bvo, No/jLTJropa /cal ÂfjuovXiov, r] BtaBoxvKaOijKev, ÂjjlovXlov Be velfiavro^ ra Trdvra Bl)(â,

rfi Be âacXeia to, %/)7;yLtaTa Kal tov ex TpoLa^

KOfiiaOevTa -xpyarov avTudevTO^, eiXero rrjv ffacri-

Xeiav 6 ôjjLT]Tcop. exôv ovv 6 'A/iouXto? ra

XPVP-ciTa Kol irXiov dir* avrcov Bvvd/j,€VO<^ rod

No//'?;Vo/909, T'^v re âatXetav dêiXero paBico'^,

Kal (f)ol3ov/jL€vo<i e'/c t/}9 OvyaTpb<; avrou yeveaOai7ralBa<; iepeiav Trj<; 'Eorrta? direBetêv, dyafjLov Kal

3 irapOevov del îcoaofievrjv. ravTrjv ol [lev îXiaVy

ol Be 'Veav, ol Be XiXovtav ovo/jidôvcTi. (fxopdraLBe puer' ov ttoXvv xpovov Kvovaa irapa tov Kade-cTTCJTa Ta?9 ÊcTTtdcrc vopLov. Kal to fiev dvjJKecTTa

p,7) iraOelv avTrjv rjtov âcriXew^; OvydTrjp ^KvOo)

TraprjTrjaaTOt BerjOelcra tov Trar/jo?' eXpjddrj Be KoiBiaiTav e2%6i' dveirifiiKTov, o7ro)<i pur) Xddoi TCKovara

TOV ÂpLOvXLOV. eT€K€ Be Bvo iratBa^ virep^vel^4 pLeyedec kol KaXXei. Bi o Kal pudXXov 6 ÂpLovXio^

(ô^7]del<i eKeXevaev avTov^ VTnjpeTrjv XaôvTaplâi, TOVTOV evLOL ^PavGTvXov ovopbdêcrOai

96

ROMULUS, II. 6-II1. 4

At any rate, this is what a certain Promathion says,who compiled a history of Italy.

III. But the story which has the widest credenceand the greatest number of vouchers was first

published among the Greeks, in its principal details,

by Diodes of Peparethus, and Fabius Pictor follows

him in most points. Here again there are variations

in the story, but its general outline is as follows.

The descendants of Aeneas reigned as kings in Alba,and the succession devolved at length upon two

brothers, Numitor and Amulius.^ Amulius divided

the whole inheritance into two parts, setting the

treasures and the gold which had been brought from

Troy over against the kingdom, and Numitor chose

the kingdom. Amulius, then, in possession of the

treasure, and made more powerful by it than Nu-

mitor, easily took the kingdom away from his brother,and fearing lest that brother's daughter should have

children, made her a priestess of Vesta, bound to

live unwedded and a virgin all her days. Her nameis variously given as Ilia, or Rhea, or Silvia. Not

long after this, she was discovered to be with child,

contrary to the established law for the Vestals.^

She did not, however, suffer the capital punishmentwhich was her due, because the king's daughter,Antho, interceded successfully in her behalf, but shewas kept in solitary confinement, that she might notbe delivered without the knowledge of Amulius.Delivered she was of two boys, and their size and

beauty were more than human. Wherefore Amuliuswas all the more afraid, and ordered a servant to

take the boys and cast them away. This servant's

name was Faustulus, according to some, but others

1 Cf. Livy, i. 3. « Cf. Livy, i. 4, 1-5.

97

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Xeyovatv, ol 5* ov rovrov, aXka rov aveXojuevov.

€v06fJL€VO<; ovv ck a/cd^yv ra jSpecj)?], /careîj fiev iirl

Tov TTorafiov co? piy^rcov, IBcov Be /cariovra iroWw

pevfiaTL KoX Tpayyvoiievov eBeiae rrpocreKOelVy iy-5 71)9 Be T7j<; oÔv'* fcaradeh dTnjWdao-ero. rov Be

7roTap,ov KaTa/€\vôvTO<; rj irXi^fifivpa T7]v (jKa^rjv

VTToXajSovo-a koX /jLerecopbaaaa irpaco^ Karijvey/cev

eh %a)y3toi^ eineLKS)^ fiaXdaKoVy o vvv Kep/juaXov

KoXouai, TrdXav Be Vepfiavov, &)? eotxev, on kol

rov^ dBeX<f)Ou<; jep/jLavov^; ovo/Mdôvcnv.

IV. 'Hz^ Be 7rXr)(TLov €pLve6<!, ov 'VcofiivdXiov

ifcdXovv, rj Bia rov 'PcofivXov, 609 ol ttoXXoI vo/jll-

ôvatv, 7) Bia TO t^ firjpvKco/jLeva rcov Ope/jb/ndroov

ixel Bta rrjv ctklclv evBidêiv, rj /ndXiara Bca rov

T(hv 0pe(j)cov OrfXaafiov, ort, rrjv re drjXrjv povfutv

oovofiaôv ol iraXaioi, kol 6e6v riva t^9 €KTpo(f)rj<;

rcjv vrjTTLcov eTri/jLeXeicrOaL BoKOvaav ovo/ndôvat

'Pov/jLiXlav, Kol Ovovaiv avrfj vrjcpdXia, koI ydXa2 Tot9 lepoL^; einaTTevBovatv. ivravOa Brj tol<;

^peêau Keipbevoi^ rrjv re Xv/caivav icrropovori

dr]XaôfjL6vr)v, fcai BpvoKoXdTrrrjv riva Trapelvai

orvv€KTp6(j)ovTa Kol (^vXaTTovTa, vofillerat, 8'

"Ay9ea)9 lepa to, ^Coa- rov Be BpvoKoXdirrrjv xai

Bia(j)€p6vrco<; Aartvoi aeffovrat koI rificoatv'

66ev ovx rjKKJTa ttlo-tlv ecrx^v 77 re/covaa ra

^pe(f>r) TCKelv i^^'Apeco^; (f>daKOvaa. Kalroi rovro

TraOelv avrrjv iâiraTTjdelaav Xeyovaiv, virb rov

Â/jLovXlov BLairapOevevOelaav ev 67rXoi<» eTricpaviv-

T09 avTrj Kal avvapirdaavTO^,

98

ROMULUS, HI. 4-iv. 2

give this name to the man who took the boys up.

Obeying the king's orders, the servant put the babes

into a trough and went down towards the river,

purposing to cast them in;but when he saw that

the stream was much swollen and violent, he wasafraid to go close up to it, and setting his burdendo>vn near the bank, went his way. Then the over-

flow of the swollen river took and bore up the trough,

floating it gently along, and carried it down to a

fairly smooth spot which is now called Kermalus,but formerly Germanus, perhaps because brothers

are called "germani."

IV. Now there was a wild fig-tree hard by, which

they called Ruminalis, either from Romulus, as is

generally thought, or because cud-chewing, or rumi-

natingy animals spent the noon-tide there for thesake of the shade, or best of all, from the suckling of

the babes there ; for the ancient Romans called theteat

"ruma," and a certain goddess, who is thought

to preside over the rearing of young children, is still

called Rumilia, in sacrificing to whom no wine is

used, and libations of milk are poured over hervictims. Here, then, the babes

la}'-,and the she-wolt

of story here gave them suck,^ and a woodpeckercame to help in feeding them and to watch over

them. Now these creatures are considered sacred to

Mars, and the woodpecker is held in especialveneration and honour by the Latins, and this wasthe chief reason why the mother was believed whenshe declared that Mars was the father of her babes.

And yet it is said that she was deceived into doingthis, and was really deflowered by Amulius himselfwho came to her in armour and ravished her.

» Of. Livy, i. 4, 6-7.

99

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 Ot Bk Tovvofia TYj^ rpocftov St,' afi^LôXtav e/rl

TO ixvOcdSe^ €/CTp07rr)v rfj rifir) irapaaêlv, \ov-

7ra<s yap eKoXovv ol Aarlvoi rwv re OrjpLcov ra?

\vKaiva<;, koI t6)v yvvaiKcov ra? eraipovaa^;' elvat

Be TocavTTjv Tr]v âvarvXov yvvaiKa tov to, ^pe-

<f)7j Opi^jravTo^, "Akkuv Aapevriav ovo/ia. ravrrj

Be Koi OvovcTLV ol ^FcofiaLoi, koI %oa9 iirKfyepet tov

ÂirpiWlov ixTjvo^ avrfi^ 6 tov "Apewf; lepevf;, kgl

Aapevriav KaXova-i Trjv eoprrjv.

Y. 'ETepav Be rtficoo-i Aapevriav ef alr[a<;

Toiavrrjf;, 6 vewKopo^ rev 'HpaKXeovt; akvwv,

ft)9 eoLKev, VTTO o-ôXt}?, irpovOero 7rpo<i rov deov

BiaKvêvetVy vireiiToov on viKT]aa<; fiev avro<; eêi

TL irapa rov deov 'X^prjarov, r}rrr]del<i Be rw Oew 20

rpcLTreâv a<^6ovov irapeêc /cat yvvacKa KaX^jv2 GvvavairavaofievTjv. eirl rourot? ra<i fiev virep

rov Oeov ridei^, Ta<; 8* virep avrov t^T^ôf?,

ave^dvT] viKa)p,evo<;. evavvSerelv Be ôvX6fievo lepw, kXlvtjv vTToaropeaa^;, Kal jxera to

BeiTTVOv avvelpêv, ew? Br] rov Oeov eôvro^ avrijv,

3 Kal pLevrot Kal rov Oeov evrv')(eLV Xiyerai ryyvvaiKL Kal KeXevcrai âBiêiv ecoOev iirl rr)V

dyopav Kal rov dTravrrjcravra irpoirov dairaaa-

fJLCvrjv iroLelaOaL ÎXov. dirrivrr)aev ovv avrfj

roiv rroXirtav dvrjp rjXLKLa^ re iroppco tJkcov koI

âvry bracketed in Sintenis'*, to avoid the hiatus.

lOO

ROMULUS, IV. 3-v. 3

But some say that the name of the children's

nurse, by its ambiguity, deflected the story into therealm of the fabulous. For the Latins not onlycalled she-wolves "lupae," but also women of loose

character, and such a woman was the wife of

Faustulus, the foster-father of the infants, AccaLarentia by name. Yet the Romans sacrifice also

to her, and in the month of April the priest of

Mars pours libations in her honour, and the festival is

called Larentalia.

V. They pay honours also to another Larentia, for

the following reason. The keeper of the temple of

Hercules, being at a loss for something to do, as it

seems, proposed to the god a game of dice, with tlie

understanding that if he won it himself, he should

get some valuable present from the god ; but if he

lost, he would furnish the god >vith a bounteous

repast and a lovely woman to keep him company for

the night. On these terms the dice were thrown,first for the god, then for himself, when it appearedthat he had lost. Wishing to keep faith, and

thinking it right to abide by the contract, he pre-

pared a banquet for the god, and engaging Larentia,who was then in the bloom of her beauty, but not

yet famous,^ he feasted her in the temple, where hehad spread a couch, and after the supper locked her

in, assured of course that the god would take pos-session of her. And verily it is said that the god did

visit the woman, and bade her go early in the

morning to the forum, salute the first man who mether, and make him her friend. She was met,

accordingly, by one of the citizens who was well onin years and possessed of considerable property, but

^ In Morals, p. 273 a, she is called a public courtezan.

101

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avveiXox^^ ovaiav iKavrjv, aTrai^ he koX êfftw-4 Kcb<; avev 'yvvaiico'^, ovofia TappovTto<;. ovto^

eyvco Tr]V Aapevriav Kal r/yaTrrjo-e, koI reXevrcov

cbTreXiTre fcXrjpovofiov eVt TroXXot? Kal KaXol<;

KTrffxaaiv, mv eKeivrj ra TrXetcrra tw hrjpiw Kara

hiLadrjKa^ eScoKe. Xiyerat he aurrjv evSoôv ovaav

)]87) fcal OeoîXrj vo/iiôpuepriv, dcpavrj yeveaOai

irepl TOVTOv tov tottov iv w Kal rr)v irpoTepav5 eKeivrjv Aapevriav KelaOai. KaXelrat he vvv 6

TOTTOV ^^Xavpov, on tov Trora/jLov itoWclkl^

virep'xeofievov hceirepaiovvro iropOiieioL^ Kara tov-

to to YcopLov €i? ayopdv Trjv he TropO/jueiav

îjXarovpav KaXovcriv. evLoi he Xiyovai tî/

6t9 TOV linrohpopLov (j)epov(7av ef dyopd<; irdpohovlcrTLOi<; KaTaireravvvvai tov^ ttjv Oeav irape-

')(pvTa<;, evrevOev dpôpLevov^' pw/natarl he to

IcTTiov ^rjXov ovo/iidôvat. hid TavTa fiev e')(€i

Tipbd<^ 7] hevTepa Aapevrta irapd 'FcopLaloL^;.

YI. Td he ^p^<^'r) âvcxTvXo^ WfiovXiov av-

(J30p/3b^ dveiXero XadoiV diravTa^, co? S' evioi

(paoTL Tcov cIkotcov exopêvoL fiaXXov, elhoTOf; rov

No/x>;TOpo9 Kal avyxop'^yovvTo^ Tpo(f)d<; KpvâT0i9 Tpe(f)OvcrL, Kal ypafipâra Xiyovrat Kal

ToXXa fiavOdveLV ol Tratheî eh Ta/3L0v<i kojlli-

2 adevre^, oaa XPV 'ôv<; ev yeyov6ra<^. KXijdrjvaihe Kal TOUTOf9 aTrb t^9 6'r}Xrj<^ laropovai ^VwpbvXovKal 'VcjpLOV, OTL drjXdfyvTe^; axpOrjaav to Orjpiov.

7] fjiev ovv ev Tot9 (Tco/iaaiv evyeveia Kal vrjirlcov

ovTwv evdv<; €^€cf>aiv€ pLeyeOet Kal Ihea tyjv (pvaiv

avôpLevoi he 6vpLoeihelpovrjpâTa 7r/909 Ta (f>aLv6pLeva

I02

ROMULUS, V. 3-vi. 2

childless, and unmarried all his life, by nameTarrutiiis. This man took Larentia to his bed andloved her well, and at his death left her heir to manyand fair possessions, most of which she bequeathedto the people. And it is said that when she wasnow famous and regarded as the beloved of a god,she disappeared at the spot where the formerLarentia also lies buried. This spot is now called

Velabrum, because when the river overflowed, as it

often did, they used to cross it at about this point in

ferry-boats, to go to the forum, and their word for

ferry is "velatura." But some say that it is so-

called because from that point on, the street leadingto the Hippodrome

^ from the forum is covered over

with sails by the givers of a public spectacle, andthe Roman word for sail is "velum." It is for these

reasons that honours are paid to this second Larentia

amongst the Romans.VL As for the babes, they were taken up and

reared by Faustulus, a swineherd of Amulius, and noman knew of it ; or, as some say with a closer

approach to probability, Numitor did know of it, and

secretly aided the foster-parents in their task. Andit is said that the boys were taken to Gabii to learn

letters and the other branches of knowledge whichare meet for those of noble birth. Moreover, we are

told that they were named, from "ruma," the Latin

word for teat,^ Romulus and Romus (or Remus),because they were seen sucking the wild beast.

Well, the noble size and beauty of their bodies,even when they were infants, betokened their natural

disposition ; and when they grew up, they were bothof them courageous and manly, with spirits which

* That is, the Circus Maxiinus. Cf. chapter iv. 1,

103

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Seivh, Kol ToXfiap 6\co^ aveKTrXrjKrov e'xpvre^* 6

Se 'Fa)fjLv\o<; yvoofir} t€ xPW^^^ fxaXkov iBoxei

Koi ttoXltiktjv 6'XBLV (Tvveaiv, iv rat? irepi vo/iat;

Koi Kvvrjylaî 7rpo<i tov? jecTVicovraf; iinfiLîaL^

TToWrjv eavTov irape'X^cov KaravoTjaiv '^yefjiovLfcov

3 fjLoXXov Tj ireiOapxîicov (J)V(T€l yeyovoTOf;. Bio

TOLpovovvTe<; ovr aireiXrjf; €(f)p6vTLôv ovre

6pyi]<;, i')(p(ji)VTOhe BLaLTai,<; /cat hcarpcâlf; i\ev-

OtpLOL<;, ov TTjv (r)(ô\r)p ikevOepwv yyovfievoLKal TTjV aiTOvLaVi aXka yvp.vdaia koI 6r)pa<; koX

Ep6p.ov<; Kal TO \r)(TTa<i dpivvaadai icai Kkfaira^

eK/eiv Kal 0Ca<; eêXiaOai tou? dBtKovfievov^,

ricrav Brj Bid ravra TreptjSorjTOL.

VII. Tevopevt]^ Be tlvo^ 7rpo<; tov<: Nop,ijTopo<:

ffouK6\ov<; To?9 ÂpLovXiOv Biacfiopd^; Kal fioa-KT}-

/jLdrcov eXacrect)?, ovk dvao-ôfievoc avyKoTrrovffi,

fiev avToi)^ Kal rpeirovraLy dirorefxvovTai, Be riy;

\eia<i (TV^v^v. dyavaKT0VVT0<i Be rod ôprjTOpo<i

wXiyMpow a-vvTjyov Be Kal irpooreBe'XpvTo ttoWov^

pev diropovii iroXXov^; Be BovXovff, dpdaov^ diro-

2 ararcKov Kal (ppovTjparo^ dpxd<; evBcBovreî. tovBe ^VwpivXov 7rp6<; riva Ovaiav aTroTpaiTopLevov

(Kal yap rjv (pLXodvrrjf; Kal pavTLKOs;), ol tov

l>iop,r]Topo<; /3oT?}/0€9 T^ 'Pcoptp p,eT oXlycDV /BaBl-

ôvTi iTpoo-TVXovTe^ epdôvTo. Kal yevop,evayv 21

TrXrjycbv Kal TpavpArcov ev dp(j)OTepot<; eKpdnjcravol TOV No/x.iJto/309 Kal avveXaôv ^cjvra tov

104

ROMULUS, Yi. 2-vii. 2

courted apparent danger, and a daring which nothingcould terrify. But Romulus seemed to exercise

his judgement more, and to have political sagacity,while in his intercourse with their neighbours in

matters pertaining to herding and hunting, he gavethem tlie impression that he was born to commandrather than to obey. With their equals or inferiors

they were therefore on friendly terms, but theylooked down upon the overseers, bailiffs, and chief

herdsmen of the king, believing them to be no better

men than themselves, and disregarded both their

threats and their anger. They also applied them-selves to generous occupations and pursuits, not

esteeming sloth and idleness generous, but rather

bodily exercise, hunting, running, driving off robbers,

capturing thieves, and rescuing the oppressed from

violence. For these things, indeed, they were famousfar and near.

VII. When a quarrel arose between the herdsmenof Numitor and Amulius,i and some of the latter's

cattle were driven off, the brothers would not suffer

it, but fell upon the robbers, put them to flight, and

intercepted most of the booty. To the displeasureof Numitor they gave little heed, but collected andtook into their company many needy men and manyslaves, exhibiting thus the beginnings of seditious

boldness and temper. But once when Romuluswas busily engaged in some sacrifice, being fond of

sacrifices and of divination, the herdsmen of Numitorfell in with Remus as he was walking with few com-

panions, and a battle ensued. After blows and wounds

given and received on both sides, the herdsmen of

Numitor prevailed and took Remus prisoner, who was1 Cf. Livy, i. 5, 3 flf.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

'Vmjj-ov, avax0evTO<; ovv avrov tt/jo? tov No/^?;-

TOpa KoX KaT7]yop7]6evTO<;, avTb<; jxev ovk iicokacre,

XctXeirov ovra êîw? tov aZe\<f)6vy iXOobv Be

7r/309 eKelvov eBelro rvxetv BiK7)<;y aS€\(f)o<; o)v koX

Ka6v^pior/jU€vo irapaBiBwcn Ta> No//,?;-

Topt TOV 'Fcofjiov 6 TL ôvXoiTO ^pT^cracrâi.

TiapoXaôov Be ifcetvo'^, co? rJKev ot/caBe, 6av/jLd-

^(ov fjLev diTO TOV <T(o/jLaTO<; tov veavLaKov virep-

(f>6povTa /jieyeOei, koX pco/j,7} irdvTa^, ivopcov Be tm

TTpoacoTTO) to Sappokeov /cat iTafibv Trj(; i/ri>^^9

4 dBovXcoTOV Kal diraOe^ vtto tcov irapovTcov, epyaBe avTov Kal 7Tpd^€i<; ofjuoca Toi<i êiropbevoi^

cLKovoiv, TO Be jMeyicTTOVy 009 eoixe, Oeov a-vfiira-

p6vT0<i Kal (7vve7rev6vvovTO<; dp)(â<; fieydXcov Trpay-

fidTCOV, aTTTO/JLevo^ eTTiVoia KalTV')(r) t^9 dXr}-

Oeia'ii dveKpivev octtl^ etr) Kal oirw^ yevoLTO,

(f)(ov7jre TTpaeia Kal (j)tXavdpd)7ra) /SXe/jL/jLaTC

5 TTiaTLV avT(p [leT eXiriBo^; ivBiBou<^. 6 Be OappwveXeyev **'AXX' ovBev diroKpij^Jrofiai ae' Kal yapelvat BoKel^

^

KfxovXiov /SaacXiKcoTepo^, aKoveiî

yap Kal dvaKpivei^ irplv r) KoXdêcv 6 8* aKpiTOVf;€kBIBq)(ti. TTpoTepov /ncv eavTovî olk€T(ov paai-Xeft)9 âvcTTvXov Kal AapevTLa^ 'qiTLaTdfieOa iral-

Ba<; (iajJêv Be BiBvpioi), yevojievot Be ev avTia

7rpo9 (re Kal BiaôXal^; Kal T0t9 irepl yjrv^rjf;

dyojcTLV, dKovofxev fxeydXa irepl eavTcov' el Be

6 TTiaTa, Kpiveiv eoiKe vvv 6 klvBvvo^. yoval fiev

106

ROMULUS, vri. 2-6

then carried before Numitor and denounced. Numitorhimself did not punish his prisoner, because he wasin fear of his brother Amulius, who was severe, butwent to Amulius and asked for justice, since he washis brother, and had been insulted by the ro3^al

servants. The people of Alba, too, were incensed,and thought that Numitor had been undeservedlyoutraged. Amulius was therefore induced to handRemus over to Numitor himself, to treat him as hesaw fit.

When Numitor came home, after getting Remusinto his hands, he was amazed at the young man's com-

plete superiority in stature and strength of body, and

perceiving by his countenance that the boldness and

vigour of his soul were unsubdued and unharmed byhis present circumstances, and hearing that his acts

and deeds corresponded with his looks, but chiefly,as it would seem, because a divinity was aidingand assisting in the inauguration of great events, he

grasped the truth by a happy conjecture, and askedhim who he was and what were the circumstances ot

his birth, while his gentle voice and kindly look

inspired the youth with confidence and hope. ThenRemus boldly said :

'^Indeed, I will hide nothing

from thee ;for thou seemest to be more like a king

than Amulius ; thou hearest and weighest before

punishing, but he surrenders men without a trial.

Formerly we believed ourselves (my twin brotherand I) children of Faustulus and Larentia, servants

of the king ; but since being accused and slanderedbefore thee and brought in peril of our lives, wehear great things concerning ourselves ; whether

they are true or not, our present danger is likely to

decide. Our birth is said to have been secret, and

107

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rfhp rj/xcbv aiTopprjTOi, Xiyovrat, rpoâX 51 koX

TiOTjvrjaeiî aroTrcoTepat veojvcov, 0I9 ipplcprjfjLev

OLCOVOt<i Kol OrjpLOtffy VTTO TOVTCOV Tp€(f)6/ji€V0L,

fiaaro) \vKaiv7]^ koI SpvoKoXaTrrov 'y^wixiafxaa-iv ,

iv (TKd(j)r) Tivl Keifievoi irapa rov fjuiyav Trora/jLov.

a/JLacrc ypafi/jLuTcov dfjbvhpcov iyK€')(apayfievodv, a

yevoiT av tcro)? varepov dvcocpeXi] yvcopiajMna7 Tot9 roK€V<Tiv 'ijfiwv aTroXofxivcov.^^

*0 fJL€V OVV Nop,rJTCOp €K T€ Tcbv XoyCOV TOVTCOV

Koi 7rpo<; T7]v O'^lv elxd^cov tov xpovov, ovk e(j)6vy€

Tr)v iXirlSa aatvovaav, dXX' i^povTiêv 67r(o<i ttj

OvyaTpl irepl tovtcov Kpv(f)a o-vyyevofievo^ (j)pd~

aeiev e<j)povpetTO yap €tl KaprepM^,VIII. 'O Be âv(7TvXo<; aKovaa'^ ttjv re avX-

Xrjylnv tov ^Vco/jlov kuI ttjv Trapdoocnv, tov fjuev

*V(opLvXov 'qîov ôr]6e2v, t6t€ aa(pM<; SiSdâ^;

irepl T% yeviaeo)^' irpoTepov Se VTrrjviTTeTO fcal

irapehrjXov ToaovTov oaov 7rpoai)(ôvTa<; p.f] fitKpov

(jipovelv avT0<; Se ttjv axdcfirjv KOfil^cov i')(^cop€i

7r/309 TOV Nop,7jTopa, <T7rov8rj(i koI heov^ /j,€aT6<;

2 ci)V 8td TOV Kaipov. viro'sjrLav ovv toa9 irepl Taff

TrvXaî c^povpol^ tov ySacrtXeo)? irape'^wv, kcui

v<f)op(i)pevo<;^ vir avTcov fcal TapaTTo/jLevo<; irepl

Td<; aTTOKpiaei^, ovk eXaOe ttjv o-Kd<p7]v t& %Xa-fivSUp TrepiKoKviTTCOv, tjv Be ri? ev avTol^ diro

Tv^V^ Twi^ TO, TraiBia plâc XajSovTcov /cal yeyo-voTcov irepl ttjv eKdeaiv. ovto^ IBcov ttjv (TK:d<f)iiv

Tore, Kal yvaypicra^ TJj KaTaaKevy koI rot? ypdp-1

itpopdixevos corrected by Bekker to ipayr^fifvos [questioned).

108

ROMULUS, viT. 6-viii. 2

our nursing and nurture as infants stranger still.

We were cast out to birds of prey and wild beasts,

only to be nourished by them,—by the dugs of a

she-wolf and the morsels of a woodpecker, as we layin a little trough by the side of the great river. The

trough still exists and is kept safe, and its bronze

girdles are engraved with letters now almost effaced,which may perhaps hereafter prove unavailing tokensof recognition for our parents, when we are dead and

gone."Then Numitor, hearing these words, and conjec-

turing the time which had elapsed from the youngman's looks, welcomed the hope that flattered him,and thought how he might talk with his daughterconcerning these matters in a secret interview ; for

she was still kept in the closest custody.VIII. But Faustulus, on hearing that Remus had

been seized and delivered up to Numitor, called uponRomulus to go to his aid, and then told him clearlythe particulars of their birth ; before this also hehad hinted at the matter darkly, and revealed

enough to give them ambitious thoughts when

they dwelt upon it. He himself took the troughand went to see Numitor, full of anxious fear lest he

might not be in season. Naturally enough, the

guards at the king's gate were suspicious of him,and when he was scrutinized by them and madeconfused replies to their questions, he was found to

be concealing the trough in his cloak. Now bychance there was among the guards one of those

who had taken the boys to cast them into the river,

and were concerned in their exposure. This man,now seeing the trough, and recognizing it by its

VOL. I. E ^®9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

/jbaoLV, ervx^v vTrovoia rod ovro^ koX ov irapr]-

fieXrjaev, aXka (j)pdaa<; to irpayfia rw âoriXel3 /caTearrjaev €t? eXeyôv. iv he TroXXal^ kol fie-

ydXaL(; dvdyKai<; 6 âvaTvXo<; ovr drjTTr^roveavrbv SiecpvXaêv ovre TravrdnTaaiv i/cîaadeL^;,

adfêaOai /nev (h/jLoXoyijae tou? TratSa?, elvac S'

cLTrcdOev T?}? "AXffrjf; 6(f)7] vefiovrav avro^ he tovto

7rpo<; TTjv ^VXiav (f>epcov âSiêLV, iroXXdKi^ Ihelv

Kol Oiyelv eir eXirihi, ê/SatoTepa rSyv re/cvcov

iTo67]cra(Tav.

4 "Oirep ovv ol raparro/juevoi, koI fiera Seovf; rj

TTpo^ opyrjv Trpdrrovre^ onovv iirLeLKw^ irdaxovai,avveTreae iraOelv rov 'A/iovXiov. dvBpa yap dXXr) 22

re 'x^prjarov /cal tov No/xt^to/jo? <f)iXov virb (tttov-

hrj<i eTre/xi/re, hiairvOeaOaL rov No/iijTOpo^; xe-

Xei/Va9 €0 Ti9 ^KOL X0709 eh avrov virep tS)V

5 TraiScov ft)? TrepLyevofievcov. d(j)iK6fievo<; ovv 6

dvOpayjTo^;, koI Oeaadfievo<; oaov ovirco rov 'Pci)-

/jLov iv 7repi(3oXaZ<; Kal <^LXo^poavvaL<^ rov Nop,'^-

ropo<;, TYjV re irlaTiv la'^vpdv eiroiriae Tr\<^ eXiriho^

KOI irapefceXevdaTO tmv irpaypbdjcDV 6êco<; dvn-

Xap,/3dv€a6aL, /cat (ivvrjv avro^ 7]Er) koI crvve-

Trparrev. 6 Be Kaipo^ ovSe ôvXafievoi^ oKvelv

TTapelx^v. 6 yap rcop,vXo<; iyyv<i tjv rjSr], Kal

TT/oo? avrov iêdeov ov/c oXiyoL rcov iroXirwv pîaec

6 /cal (po/Sqy rov Â/jlovXlov. IloXXyv Be Kal avvavrw hvvafiiv rfye avXXeXoxt'CrP'^vrjv eh eKa-

roarva'^' eKdarr)^; he dvrjp d(j)r]yeiro x°P'^^^ ^^''

vX7f<: dyKaXiha Kovrw TrepLKeijiievrjv dvex^v' fia-viirXa ravra<i Aarlvoi KaXovaiv air* eKeivov he

Kal vvv iv roL<; (rrparevpaai rovrov; pavi-

rrXaplov^ ovo/jbdôvaiv, dp,a he rov fiev 'FoofMOV

no

ROMULUS, VIII. 2-6

make and inscrij)tioUj conceived a suspicion of the

truth, and without any delay told the matter to the

king,and brought the man before him to be examined.

In these dire and pressing straits, Faustulus did not

entirely hold his own, nor yet was his secret whollyforced from him. He admitted that the boys were

alive and well, but said they lived at a distance from

Alba as herdsmen ; he himself was carrying the

trough to Ilia, who had often yearned to see and

handle it, in confirmation of her hope for her

children.

As, then, men naturally fare who are con-

founded, and act with fear or in a passion, so

it fell out that Amulius fared. For he sent in all

haste an excellent man and a friend of Numitor's,with orders to learn from Numitor whether anyreport had come to him of the children's being alive.

When, accordingly, the man was come, and beheldRemus almost in the affectionate embraces of

Numitor, he confirmed them in their confident hope,and entreated them to proceed at once to action,

promptly joining their party himself and furtheringtheir cause. And the opportunity admitted of no

delay, even had they wished it; for Romulus wasnow close at hand, and many of the citizens whohated and feared Amulius were running forth to

join him. He was also leading a large force with

him, divided into companies of a hundred men, each

company headed by a man who bore aloft a handfulof hay and shrubs tied round a pole (the Latin wordfor handful is

^^manipulus," and hence in their

armies they still call the men in such companies"manipulares."). And when Remus incited the

III

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T0U9 €i/T09 ad)LardvTo<;, rov Bk *¥o)/jLv\ov nrpoad'

fyovTo<; e^codev, ovre irpdâ^ ovSev 6 Tvpavvoôvre ôv\€vaa<i acoTrjpLov eavrw, 8ia to diropelv/cat rapaTTeaOaiy KaTakr)(^d€\<; airedavev.

7 *^v ra TrXelara koI tov âîov Xeyovro'; kol

rov UeTrap-qOlov Aiofc\eov<;, 09 SokcX Trpcoro^

EKBovvai 'Va)/jLrj<; ktl(Tiv, vttotttov /lev ivLoi,<; earl

TO BpafjuartKov /cal TrXacr/xarwSe?, ov Bet Be clttl-

arelv ttjv tvxV^ opwvTa^ o'lcov iroiTjfjbdTcov By-

fiiovpyo^ eari, koX to, 'Fcofzalcov irpdyfiaTa Xoyt-

ôfxevov^ ct)9 ovK av ivravOa Trpov/S?) Bwd/Jbeeo^;,

firj Oeiav Tiva dpxv'^ XaffovTa koI /irjBev fieya

fi7}Be irapdBoôv exovcrav.IX. *A/jlovXlov Be uTToOavovTo^s koI t&v irpay-

fjbdrov KaTaaTdvTcov, ""AX^rjv jxev ovt olKelv fir)

dpxovTe<; ovt dp^Giv eôiikovTO tov fjLr]Tpo7rdTopo<;

^(x)VTo<;, d7roB6vTe<; Be rrjv '^ye/Jiovlav eKeivfp koX ry

fi7)Tpl Ti/jLa<; irpeirovaaî, eyvcoaav oLKelv /caO^

€avTov<^, ttoXlv ev ol<; ^6)/3toi9 ef dp^V^ iveTpd-

^7)(jav KTiaavTe^' avTrj yap evirpeTreaTaTT] tcov,

2 aiTioov laTLV. ^v B* taw^ dvayKoioVy olKerSyv kol

diroaTarSiV iroWoiv 'Ôpoio-jnevcov irpb^ avrov^;, 7)

KUTaXvOr/vai TravTdTraai tovtcdv Biao-jrapevTcov

•qavvoLKelv IBia /mct avTwv. otl yap ovk tj^lovv

at rrjv "A\^')]v olKovvTe<; dvafjuyvvvai tov<; diro-

<rTaTa9 tavTOL<; ovBe TrpoaBexeo-Oai, iroXiTa^f eBi^-

Xfoae TTpcoTov jxev to irepl Ta9 ywal/caî epyov,

ovx v^pei ToXjiMTjOiv, dXXa Bi dvdyKrjv, hcovaLwv

112

ROMULUS, VIII. 6-ix. 2

citizens within the city to revolt, and at the same

time Romulus attacked from without, the tyrant,

without taking a single step or making any plan for

his own safety, from sheer perplexity and confusion,

was seized and put to death.

Although most of these particulars are related byFabius and Diodes of Peparethus, who seems to

have been the first to publish a "Founding of Rome,"

some are suspicious of their fictitious and fabulous

quality ; but we should not be incredulous when wesee what a poet fortune sometimes is, and when wereflect that the Roman state would not have attained

to its present power, had it not been of a divine

origin, and one which was attended by great marvels.

IX. Amulius being now dead, and matters settled

in the city, the brothers were neither willing to live

in Alba, unless as its rulers, nor to be its rulers while

their grandfather was alive. Having therefore

restored the government to him and paid fitting

honours to their mother, they resolved to dwell bythemselves, and to found a city in the region where,at the first, they were nourished and sustained ;

^

this surely seems a most fitting reason for their

course. But perhaps it was necessary, now that

many slaves and fugitives were gathered about them,either to disperse these and have no following at all,

or else to dwell apart with them. For that the

residents of Alba would not consent to give the

fugitives the privilege of intermarriage with them,nor even receive them as fellow-citizens, is clear, in

the first place, from the rape of the Sabine women,^which was not a deed of wanton daring, but one of

necessity, owing to the lack of marriages by consent ;

1 Cf . Livy, i. 6, 3 f. See chapter xiv.

"5

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aiTopia ydfjLOi)V' irifirjaav y^p avra<; dpTrdaavre^3 TrepiTTcb^;. eireLra t^9 TroXeo)? ti]v irponTrjv

'ihpvcnv Xafiffavovaijffy lepov ri (jiv^t/JLOv rot? d^t-

aTa/jLevoi<; KaraaKevdcravTeî o ©eoO ÂavXalov

TTpoarjyopevov, iheôvTo 7rdvra<;, ovre SecTTorat?

BovXov ovre Orjra ')(^prj(naL<^ ovt dp)(ôvcnv dvhpo-

(f)6vov e/cBcSovre^;, dWa fiavrevfiarL 'jTv6o')(^prj(TT(p

irdori êâiovv rrjv davkiav ^daKOVT€<;, coare

7r\r]9vcrai ra^v Tr)V itoXlv iirel ra? je 7rpa)Ta<;

kaTia<; Xiyovert, tmv')(^b\i(iyv purj irXeiovaî yeveaOaL,

ravra piev ovv vajepov.4 ÔppLTjaaai, he 7rpo<; tov avvoLKLapuov avTol<;

evOu^ rjv Si,a(j)Opa irepl rod tottov. *Pa)/AuXo9 piev

ovv T7)v fiokovpievrjv ^FcopuTjv KovaSpdrrjv, oirep

€(TtI rerpdycopov, CKTicre, KcCi €K€lvov iôvXero

TToXiêiP TOV TOTTOV, 'Pft)/i09 ^6 ')((Opl0V Tl TOV

ÂfievTivov KUpTepov, o Bl ixetvov puev aovopLdaOrj

5 'PepLcoviov, vvv Be ^Viyvdpiov KaXeiTUL. avvOe-

puevcov Be ttjv epiv opviaiv alaLOi<; fipafievaai koI

KaOeôpbivcov %&)/3t9, ef (f)a(n> tm 'Pco/zco, Bi,7rXa-

aiov^ Be tS> 'PcopLvXa) 7rpo(f>avf]vai yv7ra<;. ol Be

TOV puev ^VwpLov dXrjda)<! IBecv, '\jrevaao-6aL Be tov

'PoypbvXov* iXBovTOfi Bl tov 'Fcopuov, Tore toi'9

BcoBe/ca T& *Pa)/xu\&) (pavrjvai, Bio koX vvv pbdXLCTTa

')(pr]adac yvxjrl 'FcopLaiOv<i oitoviôjievov^,

'Hp6Bcopo<; Be 6 TIovti/co<; la-Topel kol tov 'H/)a-6 KXea x^^P^^^ yv7ro<; eVl irpdêc (j)avevTO^. ecTTi

pikv yap dj3Xa/3eaTaTOV ^cocov dirdpToyVf jiyBev tav

114

ROMULUS, IX. 2-6

for they certainly honoured the women, when theyliad carried them off, beyond measure. And in the

second place, when their city was first founded, theymade a sanctuary of refuge for all fugitives,^ which

they called the sanctuary of the God of Asylum.There they received all who came, delivering none

up, neither slave to masters, nor debtor to creditors,nor murderer to magistrates, but declaring it to be in

obedience to an oracle from Delphi that they madethe asylum secure for all men. Therefore the citywas soon full of people, for they say that the first

houses numbered no more than a thousand. This,

however, was later.

But when they set out to establish their city, a

dispute at once arose concerning the site. Romulus,

accordingly, built Roma Quadrata (which means

square), and wished to have the city on that site ;

but Remus laid out a strong precinct on the Aventine

hill, which was named from him Remonium, but

now is called Rignarium. Agreeing to settle

their quarrel by the flight of birds of omen,^ and

taking their seats on the ground apart from one

another, six vultures, they say, were seen by Remus,and twice that number by Romulus. Some, however^

say that whereas Remus truly saw his six, Romuluslied about his twelve, but that when Remus came to

him, then he did see the twelve. Hence it is that

at the present time also the Romans chiefly regardvultures when they take auguries from the flight of

birds.

Herodorus Ponticus relates that Hercules also

was glad to see a vulture present itself when hewas upon an exploit. For it is the least harmful

1 Cf. Livy, i. 8, 5 f.« cf. Livy, i. 7, 1.

115

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(nrelpovcnv rj <f>vr6vovcnv ^ vifiovaiv avOpcoiroi

(TLvofievoVt Tpicperai Be aTro veKpwv (TcofidTcov,

oLTTO/CTLVvvcn 8* ovBcv ovSk XvfiaLV€Tai 'y^vxh^ €XOv,

TTTTjvol'i he Sia (Tvyyiveiav ovBe veKpoL<i irpoaeiaLV.

aerol he /cal y\av/ce<i kol lepaKe^ ^(ovra KoirrovaL

ra ofMOipvXa xal <\)ovevov<Tr /calroL xar Al-

<r')(y\ov'

"OpviOo<; 6pvi<; tto)? av dyvevoi (payayv;

7 ert raWa p.ev iv 6<^6akfioZf;y ax; eVo? eiireiv, dva-

a-TpecperaL /cal irapexî hia iravro^ aiaOricnv

eavT&v 6 Be yv^fr cnrdvLov iari Oeafia koI veoa-

(Tol^ yvTTo^ ov paBiw<; tcTfiev eVreru^^^Ty/coTe?, oKkaKol Trapiaxev evioi^ droirov virovoiav, e^coOev

auT0U9 d<f>' erepa^ riv6<s jrjf; /caraipeiv ivravOa,

TO airdvLOV Koi firj avvex^^> olov ol fidvrec^ dîov-(TLV elvai TO fiT] Kara (j^va-iv fir^B* d(j)^ avTov, TrofiTrfj

Be Oeia âtvofievov.X. EttcI S' e'yvw rrjv aTrdrrjv 6 'Pw/ô?, €%a-

XeTraivCy koX tov ^VwfivXov Td<ppov 6pvTTOVTo<; yTO Te?%09 efieWe KVKKovadac, to, jxev i')(\j6valê

Ttav epycov, Tot9 S* efJuroBcbv iyevsTo. reXo? Be

BioXkofxevov avTov ol fiev avrov 'VcofivXov iraTa-

faj/T09, ol Be T(ov eTaipcov tlvo^ KeXepo?, ivTavda2 ireaelv Xeyovaiv. eireae Bk Kal *âvarvXo^ iv tt,

fid^J) K^cil TiXeicrrlvofSy ov dBe\(f)Ov ovTa âvcTTV-

Xov avve/cOpi'âL tou? irepl tov ^PcofivXov laTopov-aiv. o fiev ovv lêXep eh Tvpprjvtav /jLCTeaTT} Kal

dir eKeivov tov<; TaêU ol 'Vcop,aloi Kal oêhKe\epa<i ovoiMdôvar Kal KoivTOv MeTeWov, otl

ii6

ROMULUS, IX. 6-x. 2

of all creatures, injures no grain, fruit-tree, or

cattle, and lives on carrion. But it does not kill or

maltreat anything that has life, and as for birds, it

will not touch them even when they are dead, since

they are of its own species. But eagles, owls, andhawks smite their own kind when alive, and kill

them. And yet, in the words of Aeschylus :—^

"^ How shall a bird that preys on fellow bird beclean ?

"

Besides, other birds are, so to speak, always in our

eyes, and let themselves be seen continually; but

the vulture is a rare sight, and it is not easy to

come upon a vulture's young, nay, some men havebeen led into a strange suspicion that the birds comefrom some other and foreign land to visit us here,so rare and intermittent is their appearance, which

soothsayers think should be true of what does not

present itself naturally, nor spontaneously, but by a

divine sending.X. When Remus knew of the deceit, he was

enraged,^ and as Romulus was digging a trench

where his city's wall was to run, he ridiculed some

parts of the work, and obstructed others. At last,

when he leaped across it, he was smitten (byRomulus himself, as some say ; according to others,

by Celer, one of his companions), and fell dead there.

Faustulus also fell in the battle, as well as Pleistinus,who was a brother of Faustulus, and assisted him in

rearing Romulus and Remus. Celer, at any rate,betook himself to Tuscany, and from him theRomans call such as are swift and speedy,

" celeres."

Quintus Metellus, for instance, when his father died,1Sv^lianU, 226 (Dindorf>

« Cf. Livy, i. 7, 2.

117

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rov iraTpo^ a7Todav6vTo<; dycova fiovo/nd'X^ciyv "r/fii-

pai<; o\Lyai<; eiToi'qae, dav^doravres rb ra^ô? t^9

irapacTKevriq Kekepa Trpoo-rjyopevcrav.

XI. 'O Se ^Vayfivkoî iv rfj ^VejjLWvla^

ddylra<;

rov 'Fcofiov ofxov koX rov^ Tpo<j)6i<;, wKiê rrjv

TToXiv, ere Tvppr}Via<; fieraire/JLÎrdfievof; dvSpa^

i€poL<; rial 6€(t/j.ol<; koI ypd/JL/iacriv vcfyrjyovfievov^;

efcacrra KaX hi^daKovra^ coairep iv Tekerfj. ^66-

po<; yap aipvyrj irepl to vvv KofiiTiov KVKkoTepr}^,

dTrapxcti T€ TrdvTcov, oaoi<; vo/ulm fiev w? koXoI^

i^pcovTo, (pvaei S' 009 dvayfcaioifj, drreridrja-av

ivTavda. kol T€\o<;, ef 779 d(j)LKTO 7^9 eKaaro^

oXiyrjv ko/xl^cov fiolpav, eâWov eh ravra fcal

2 auvefiLyvvov. /caXovcri Be rov fiodpov rovrov cS

Kol rov oXvfiTTOv ovofxari fiovvBov. elra axrirep

kukXov Kevrpw Trepteypayfrav rrjv itoXlv. 6 K

olfciarrjf; ififiaXoiv dp6rpa> pâX/c^z/ vviv, viroêvâ^

he povv dppeva kol OrjXeiav, avro<^ fiev eirdyei

irepieXavvcov avXaKa fiaOelav roh repfxao-i, rwv S*

eTTOjiiivcov epyov iariv, a<; dvicrrrjcn /3a)Xou9 ro

aporpov Karaarpecffeiv eL<T(o, KaX /JuyBeîav eêa

3 irepiopav ifcrpeTro/JLevrjv. rfj fiev ovv ypafififj ro

relô^ d(j>opiôvaL koX KaXelrai Kara avyKOirrjv

'TTCofi'^pLov, olov oTTiaOev rei')(pv<s tj fiera retô';'

OTTov Be ttvXtjv ifiâXelv Biavoovvrai, rrjv vviv

eêXovre^ KaX ro dporpov v'repdevre*; BtdXeififia

^'Pe/tcoi'f J Coraes and Bekker, with C : 'Pcfiopi^,

118

ROMULUS, X. 2-xi. 3

took only a few days to provide gladiatorial contests

in his honour, and the people were so amazed at his

speed m preparing them that they gave him the

surname of Celer.

XI. Romulus buried Remus, together with his

foster-fathers, in the Remonia,^ and then set himself

to building his city, after summoning from Tuscanymen who prescribed all the details in accordance

with certain sacred ordinances and writings, and

taught them to him as in a religious rite. A circular

trench was dug around what is now the Comitium,^and in this were deposited first-fruits of all thingsthe use of which was sanctioned by custom as goodand by nature as necessary ; and finally, every manbrought a small portion of the soil of his native land,and these were cast in among the first-fruits and

mingled with them. They call this trench, as theydo the heavens, by the name of "mundus." Then,taking this as a centre, they marked out the city in

a circle round it. And the founder, having shod a

plough with a brazen ploughshare, and having yokedto it a bull and a cow, himself drove a deep furrow

round the boundary lines, while those who followed

after him had to turn the clods, which the ploughthrew up, inwards towards the city, and suffer noclod to lie turned outwards. With this line theymark out the course of the wall, and it is called,

by contraction,"pomerium," that is "post murum,"

behind or next the wall. And where they purposed to

put in a gate, there they took the share out of

the ground, lifted the plough over, and left a vacant^ See chapter ix, 4.^ A space adjoining the forum where the people met in

assembly. The mundtis^ or augural centre of the city, was

really on the Palatine.

M9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TTOiovcnv. o9ev airav to relx^^ lepov ttXtjv tcov

7Tv\(ov vojJLiôvcrr ra? he iriiXa'^ lepa<i i'OfiiôvTa<^

ovK Tjv aveu h€t(riBaL/jiovia<; Ta fiev heêadai, raS* aTTOTri/JLTreLV tmp dvayKaucov /cal firj xaOapcov.

XII. "Or* fjLev ovv 7} ktictl^ Vf^p^ ykvoiTo rfj

irpo evSefca /cdXavBcov îaicov ofjLoXoyelTar koI

Ttjv '^fjiipav ravTTjv eoprdôvai '"Pcofialoi, yeve-OXlov t?79 TTarpiBo'i ovofidôvre^. ev dp^rj B\ w?

(paaiv, oi'Bev ep^-^vôv eOvov, dXkd xaOapdv fcal

dvaipâKTOv Sovro Belv rfj Trarpihi rrjv iircovvpov

T?)9 yevi(T€(o<i eoprrjv cpuXdrreiv. ov p,T)v dWd 24

Kal TTpo tt}? KTLcreco'g ôTrjpt/ci] ri? ^v avTol<i eopTrjKara ravTrjv rrjv T)p,epav, fcal Tiapikva Trpoarj-

yopevov avrtjv.Nvv pev ovv ovSev at, 'Vcopâlfcal vovp^rjvtai

7r/D09 ra? 'KXXrjvifcd^ 6p.oXoyovp£vov exovaiv'iK6Ljrrjv Be rrjv r^piepav, fj ttjv ttoXiv 6 'PwyLtuXo?

€KTi^€v, drpe/CTj rpiaKaBa rvxêlv Xeyovar Kal

avvoBov i/cXeiTTTLKTjv ev avrfj yevkaOai aeXrjVTjf;

Trpos rfkLoVy Tjv elBevac /cal Âvrlpaxov otovraiy

rov TtJIov iiroTTOLov, erei rpirq) t^9 eKrr)^ oXvp,-TTidBo^ (TvpLTTeaovaav. ev Be rolov 'X^povoiî, dvBpa *F(op,ai(ov ev Ictto-

pia ^LpXiaKODTarov, rjv Tapovriof; eralpo^ avrovt

cj)L\6ao(l)0<i pLev dXk(o^ Kal paOi^pâriKo^, divTo-

pb€VO^ Be TT]^ irepl rov irivaKa peOoBov decopiaîevGKa Kal Bokmv ev avrfj rrepirro<; elvai. rovr(p

irpov/SaXev 6 Bdppcov dvayayetv rr}v 'VwpvXovyevecriv eh rjpbipav Kal a>pav, €k rwv Xeyopêvcov

drroreXeapbdrcov irepl rov dvBpa '7roi'rja'dp,evov rov

avXXoyiapLoVi coairep at rS)v yecop^rpiKcov v(pi]'

X20

ROMULUS, XI. 3-xii. 4

space. And this is the reason why they regardall the wall as sacred except the gates ;

but if theyheld the gates sacred, it would not be possible, with-

out religious scruples, to bring into and send out of

the city things which are necessary, and yet unclean.

XII. Now it is agreed that the city was foundedon the twenty-first of April, and this day the

Romans celebrate with a festival, calling it the

birthday of their country. And at first, as it is said,

they sacrificed no living creature at that festival,

but thought they ought to keep it pure and withoutstain of blood, since it commemorated the birth of

their countiy. However, even before the foundingof the city, they had a pastoral festival on that day,and called it Parilia.

At the present time, indeed, there is no agree-ment between the Roman and Greek months, but

they say that the day on which Romulus foundedhis city was precisely the thirtieth of the month,and that on that day there was a conjunction of thesun and moon, with an eclipse, which they thinkwas the one seen by Antimachus, the epic poet of

Teos, in the third year of the sixth Olympiad.^And in the times of Varro the philosopher, a Romanwho was most deeply versed in history, there lived

Tarutius, a companion of his, who, besides being a

philosopher and a mathematician, had applied himselfto the art of casting nativities, in order to indulge a

speculative turn of mind, and was thought to excelin it. To this man Varro gave the problem of fixingthe day and hour of the birth of Romulus, makinghis deductions from the conjunctions of events

reported in the man's life, just as the solutions of

1 754 b.a

121

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yovvrai Trpo^rj/jbdrcov dva\va€t<;' rrj<i yap avT7}<;

Oewpla^ elvai yjpovov re \a/36vra<; dvOpodirov

yeviaeci)^; fftov TTpoeiirelv koI ^lm BoOivrt 9r]pev-5 (Tat y^povov. eTToirjcrev ovv to 'jTpoaTa')(6ev 6

TapovTLO<^, fcal rd re Trddi] Kal ra epya rov

dvBpofi eTTiBcbv Kal ')(^p6vov ^corjî Kal rpoirov

reXevrrj^; Kal iravra rd Tocavra avvdeiî, ev

fidXa TedapprjKOTco^; Kal dvBpei(0<; dire^r^vaTO rrjv

fiev ev rr} jjirjTpl yeyovkvai tov 'VcofivXov avWrj-

yfriv erec Trpcoro) t^? Bevrepa^ oXvfjLindSo^;, iv

/jurjvlKar AlyviTTiov^ XoidK, Tpirrj Kal elKdBiy

rpurrjq Mpa<;, Kad^ r)v 6 7]\io(; eêkLire iravTeko)^'

rrjv 8' e/JLcpavrj yeveaiv iv fxr^vl ScovO, rj/nipa

6 Trpcorrj fier eiKdSa, irepl rfkLov dvaroX.d<f. ktv-

(lOrjvai, Be rrjv 'Pco/jltjv vtt avrov rfj evdrrj âp-fjLovOl fjLr}vo<i larafievov, fiera^v Bevrepa^ &pa^Kal TptT??9' eirel Kal TroXeox; TV')(r)v, (oairep dv-

OpcoTTov, Kvpcov eêiv otovrai "X^povov, eK rr}^

7rp(t)T7]<; yeveaecof; tt/jo? ra? rcov darepctyv cttox^^

Oecopovfjuevov. dWd ravra fiev tcroj? Kal rdTOtavra tm êva) Kal irepLTTW Trpocrdêrai, fid\-\ov 7]

Bid TO fJLvOwBe^ evox^V^^t Toi'9 evTvyxjd-vovTa<i auTot?.

XIII. KTto-êto"?;? Be rfj^ TroXeo)? Trpcorov fiev

oaov TjV ev rjXiKLa iTXrj6o<; et? (Twrdyfiara arpa-TLOiTtKa BtelXev eKaarov Be arvvrayfia Treôiyv

Tpcaxi^Xiayv rjv Kal rptaKOo-icov lirirecdv, €KXr}Orj

Be Xeyeobv r(p XoydBa^ elvai tov<; pLaxifiovt; €k

irdvTwv. eiretra tol<; fiev dXXoi,<; i^p^TO Btj/jLOi

Kal 7ro7rovXov<; ODvofxdcrOr) to TrXrjOo^;' eKarov Be

Tov<i dpL(TTov<i aTreBecê jSovXevTU^, xal avroix;

122

ROMULUS, XII. 4-xiii. i

geometrical problems are derived ; for the same

science, he said, must be capable not only of fore-

telling a man's life when the time of his birth is

known, but also, from the given facts of his life, of

hunting out the time of his birth. This task, then,Tarutius performed, and when he had taken a surveyof the man's experiences and achievements, and had

brought together the time of his life, the manner of

his death, and all such details, he very courageouslyand bravely declared that Romulus was conceived

in his mother's womb in the first year of the second

Olympiad,^ in the month Choeac of the Egyptiancalendar, on the twenty-third day, and in the third

hour, when the sun was totally eclipsed ; and that

he was born in the month Thoth, on the twenty-first day, at sun-rise ; and that Rome was founded

by him on the ninth day of the month Phar-

muthi, between the second and third hour: for it is

thought that a city's fortune, as well as that of a

man, has a decisive time, which may be known bythe position of the stars at its very origin. Theseand similar speculations will perhaps attract readers

by their novelty and extravagance, rather than offend

them by their fabulous character.

XIII. When the city was built, in the first place,Romulus divided all the multitude that were of ageto bear arms into military companies, each companyconsisting of three thousand footmen and three hun-dred horsemen. Such a company was called a

"legion," because the warlike were selected out of all.

In the second place, he treated the remainder as a

people, and this multitude was called "populus

";

a hundred of them^ who were the most eminent^ he» 772 B.a

123

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fj^v 7raTpifCtov<;, rb Be crvaTy/jba aevdrov irpoarjyo'2 pevaev. 6 fiev ovv aevarofi drpeKCJ^: yepovalav

aTj/xaiver iraTpiKiov^ he rov^ /SouXefra? kXtj-

Orjvai Xiyovaiv ol fxev on iraiBcov yvrjaiwv ira-

repe^ rjaav, ol he fidWov &)? avTOV^ eôvra'ieavTOiv dnroBeLât irarepa^;, orrep ov 7roWol<;

vTTTJpê royv irpcorcov eh Trjv ttoXiv GVppeovTcovol he diro ri)^ Trarpcoveia^;, ovrco yap eKoXovv

rrjv TTpoaTaaiav /cat KaXovaiv a-y^pc vvv, olofievoi

Udrpcovd Ttva tcov avv ^vdvopat Trapayevojiivcov,

KrjhefiovLKov tcov viroheeaTepcov ovra /cat ôTjOrj-

TLKOV, d(p^ avTov TO) irpdypuTL ravri^v rrjv irpoarj-3 yopiav diroXLirelv. fidXiara S' dv t£9 Tvy')(^dvotTov etVoT09, el vo/jllôl rbv ^VwfjLvXov dîovvraTOL'9 7rp(OT0v<; Kot BvvaT(OTdTov(; TrarpcKr} K7)Se-

fiovia Koi (f>povrLBi. irpoarjKeiv i7rt,fie\ei(rOai tcov

raireivoTeprnVi dfia Be roi)? dWov; BiBda/coina

fiT)BeBievai fJLrjB^ d')(6ea6at ral<i twv KpeiTTovwv

TLfiai<;, dWd '^(prja-dai, fier evvoia^ koX vopiôvra^Koi irpoaayopevovTafi Trarepa^, ovtw<; ovo/jAcrac,

4 Kol yap d')(pL vvv tol/? eV crvyKki]r(p reXovvraôl fiev e^coOev dvBpa^ 'r)yep.ova^ KaXovaiv, avrol

Be ^VcofialoL irarepaf; avyyeypafjup-evov^y r^ fjue- 25

yicTTOV /J>6P dîcofjua Kal rt/iijv, yfcta-ra Be (i)66vov

exovTi ')(pco/jL€V0L T(bv ovofiaTcov, ev dp')(rj fxev

ovv Trarepa^f avTOV<i /jlovov, varepov Be irXeiovwv

Trpoa-avaXapbâvofievcov, Trarepa? cvyyeypap,fxe-5 vov<i Trpotrrjyopevaav. kol rovro fiev rjv ovofia

aefiPOTepov avrw rrjf; 7rpo9 to Brffiori/cbv rod

ffovXevTiKov Bia<fiopd^* eT€poi<i Be tow? Bvvarov^

124

ROMULUS, xiii. 1-5

appointed to be councillors, calling the individuals

themselves "patricians," and their body a *' senate."

Now the word " senate"means literally a Council of

Elders, and the councillors were called "patricians,"

as some say, because they were fathers of lawful

children ^;or rather, according to others, because

they could tell who their own fathers were, which

not many could do of those who first streamed into

the city ; according to others still, from "patronage,"which was their word for the protection of inferiors,

and is so to this day ;and they suppose that a

certain Patron, one of those who came to Italy with

Evander, was a protector and defender of the poorand needy, and left his own name in the word which

designates such activity. But the most reasonable

opinion for any one to hold is that Romulus thoughtit the duty of the foremost and most influential

citizens to watch over the more lowly with fatherlycare and concern, while he taught the multitude not

to fear their superiors nor be vexed at their honours,but to exercise goodwill towards them, consideringthem and addressing them as fathers, whence their

name of Patricii. For down to the present time

foreign peoples call the members of their senate

"chief men," but the Romans themselves call them"conscript fathers," using that name which has the

greatest dignity and honour, and awakens the least

envy. At first, then, they called them simply

"fathers," but later, when more had been added to

their number, they addressed them as "conscriptfathers." By this more imposing title Romulus

distinguished the senate from the commonalty, and

in other ways, too, he separated the nobles from the

i Cf. Livy, i. 8, 7.

<^«5

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

alto T&v TToW&v hirjpet, irdrpayva^ ovofid^cov,

oirep earl irpoardraî, cKeipov^ Be Kkievra^y oirep

iarl TTcXara?* dfUL Be irpb^ dWijXovs 6avfia(TTr]v

evvoiav avrol^ koX fieyaXwp Bt/caiwv virdpôuaav

everroirja-ev. oinoi fiev yap €^fjyrp-d<: re tS>v vofii-

ficov Kal irpocrrdra^ BiKaôfievoL^ avp.fiov\ov^ re

6 irdvTCDv Kol Ki]B€fi6va<: eauTou? Trapelxov, eKelvoi

^ T0I/T0U9 eOepdirevov ov fiovov Tifia>VTe<iy dXKaKcu ireiofievoi^ OvyaT€pa<; avvexBiBopre^ Kal XP^ôvvacrLvovTe^, KarajjuipTvpelv re ireXaTov irpoa-

rd-njv, Tj irpoaraTov TreXdrTjp, ovre p6fM0<; ouSet?

ovT€ dpxo>v rjpd/ytca^€P. varepop Be, tcop dXXxop

Bucalayp plcpoptcop, to Xafi^dveip XPVH^"^^ tov9

Bvparoif^ irapa rcop raireiporepcop aia^pov ipo-

fdaOrj KoX dy€Pve<:, ravra fiep ovp irepX rovrtop.

XIV. TeTttpry Be fir]pl fiera ttjp ktLglp, co9

^d^to<: laropel, ro irepl tijp dpirayrfP irdX/jLijOTj

tS>p yvpatKcop, xal Xeyovcri fiep epioi top *Pa)-

/ivKop avTOP T§ <l>v(rei (fnXoiroXefiop opra, xal

ireTreiafiepop ex tipcjp dpa Xoylcjv on ti]p 'Pco/atî/

irhrpoiTai iroXeiioi^ rpetpojjJpTjp teal avô^vrjp

yeviaOcu fJLeyiarrjp, fiia^ irrrdpât tt/jo? roij^

Xa^LPovf;' ovBe yap ttoXXo?, dXXa TptdxoPTa

fi6pa<i irapdepov^ Xapelp hvtov, are Br) iroXAfiov

2 fwXXop r) yd/jUDP Beopepop. tovto Be ovk eiKoî'

dXX^ Tfjp pep TToXtp 6p(op hroLKcop €v$v^ e/x7r*7rXo-

fjt^vrjv, &v oXlyoi yvpatKa<; elxov, ol Be voWol

xa6

ROMULUS, XIII. 5-xiv. 2

multitude, calling the one "patrons," that is to say,

protectors, and the other "clients," that is to say,

dependants. At the same time he inspired both

classes with an astonishing goodwill towards each

other, and one which became the basis of important

rights and privileges. For the patrons advised their

clients in matters of custom, and represented themin courts of justice, in short, were their counsellors

and friends in all things ; while the clients weredevoted to their patrons, not only holding them in

honour, but actually, in cases of poverty, helpingthem to dower their daughters and pay their debts.

And there was neither any law nor any magistratethat could compel a patron to bear witness againsta client, or a client againt a patron. But in later

times, while all other rights and privileges remainedin force, the taking of money by those of high degreefrom the more lowly was held to be disgraceful and

ungenerous. So much, then, on these topics.XIV. It was in the fourth month after the

founding of the city, as Fabius writes, that the rapeof the Sabine women was perpetrated.^ And some

say that Romulus himself, being naturally fond of

war, and being persuaded by sundry oracles, too,

that it was the destiny of Rome to be nourished andincreased by wars till she became the greatest of

cities, thereby merely began unprovoked hostilities

against the Sabines; for he did not take manymaidens, but thirty only, since what he wanted waswar rather than marriages. But this is not likely.

On the contrary, seeing his city filling up at once

with aliens, few of whom had wives, while the

greater part of them, being a mixed rabble of needy» Cf. Livy, i. 9.

127

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiiya8€<; i^ airopwv fcal acfâvcov ovre^ virepeco-

pcovTo Kal TTpoaeBoKcovTO /JiT} avfjL/ievelv /3e/3ata)9,

iXiTL^cov Be 7rpb<; rov<; Xaîvov^ Tpoirov nva

ovyKpdcrew^ koX /coLVcovCa^ ^PXV^ avTol^ to aBl-

Krjfia iTOirjcreLV rjfxepcoaafjLevoL^ ra? yvvaiKa^;, eire-

Xîprjae tw epyw rovBe tov Tpoirov.

3 AlcBoOtj X0709 vTT avTov TTpcoTov &)? Oeov

TLVO^ avevprjKOL ^(OfJbov VTTO jr}<; Ke/cpujuLfiivov.

oavofiaôv Be top 6eov K&vcrov, etre jSouXalov

ovTa {KWV(Ti\iov yap €tl vvv to <7Vjj./3ov\iov

KoXovai, Kal tov<; vitcltov^ /ccovaov\a<;, olov irpo-

fiov\ov<i), €LT€ LTTTnov IlocrefcSw. Kal yap 6fici)/jLO<;

iv T& fieiôvi TMv iTTTroBpo/Jbwv ecTTiVy aâvr}^;

TOV aWov 'X^povoVy iv Be T0t<; i7rTrtK0t<; aytoctv

4 dvaKa\v7rT6/jLevo<;. 01 Be Kal 6Xco<; (f)aal tov

ôv\evp,aTo<; diropprjTOV Kal d(f)avov ^cofiov yeveaOaL Ke-

KpufjLfjLevov. 0)9 3' dvecpavT}, Ovalav re XafxirpdveV auTft) Kal dywva Kal Oeav eK KaTayyeXiaîireTeXei TravrjyvpiKrjv. Kal ttoXXoI fiev dvOpcoTTOi

avvrjXOov, avTo<; Be TrpovKaOrjTO pueTa tmv dpi5 aTCOV dXovpyiBi KeKoap^rj/jLevo^;. rjv Be tov KaLpov

T'^9 67ri%et/D?^cr6a)9 av/jL/3oXov eâvaaTavTa ttjv

dXovpyiBa iTTVâi Kal irepLâXeaOai irdXiv.

exovT€, Kal

TOV (TTjfieiov yevofjievov aTraadfievoi tcl ^L(f)7) Kal

pLeTCL ôrj<; opfirjaavTe^ rjpTTaiôv Td<; 6vyaTepa<;Tcov XajSivcov, avTov<i Be (f)evyovTa^ eicov Kal

^2,8

ROMULUS, XIV. 2-5

and obscure persons, were looked down upon and

expected to have no strong cohesion ;and hoping

to make the outrage an occasion for some sort of

blending and fellowship with the Sabines after their

women had been kindly entreated, he set his handto the task, and in the following manner.

First a report was spread abroad by him that hehad discovered an altar of a certain god hidden

underground. They called this god Consus, andhe was either a god of counsel (for

*' consilium"

is

still their word for counsel, and they call their chief

magistrates'*consuls," that is to say, counsellors^, or

an equestrian Neptune. For the altar is in the

Circus Maximus, and is invisible at all other times,

but at the chariot-races it is uncovered. Some,however, simply say that since counsel is secret and

unseen, it is not unreasonable that an altar to the

god of counsel should be hidden underground.^

Now when this altar was discovered, Romulus

appointed by proclamation a splendid sacrifice uponit, with games, and a spectacle open to all people.And many were the people who came together,while he himself sat in front, among his chief men,clad in purple. The signal that the time had comefor the onslaught was to be his rising and foldinghis cloak and then throwing it round him again.Armed with swords, then, many of his followers

kept their eyes intently upon him, and when the

signal was given, drew their swords, rushed in with

shouts, and ravished away the daughters of the

Sabines, but permitted and encouraged the men^ The altar was kept buried in the earth to signify the

secret processes of nature in the production of crops and

vegetation. For Consus was an ancient Italian god of

agriculture.

fi9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

6 Trapteaav. apiraadrjvai Si (j)acrtv oi fxev rpld-

Kovra fjiova^, acf)ôiv /cal ra? (pparpia^; ovofia-

aOrjvac, OvaX\€pio<; Be 'Arrta? CTrra Kal etfcoai

Kal irevTaKoaia^, 'Io/3a9 SI Tpel<; Kal oyBo^KovraKal €âKO(JLa<; irapOevov^' o pbeyccnov rjv cltto-

Xoyrjpâ tw ^VcopLiikw' yvvalKa yap ov Xaffelv

aX)Crj p,iav, 'Eipaikiav, BiaXaOovaav avrov^, are

Br) p,r) p,eO^ v/3pea)f; fJurjB^ dBiKLa<; iXdovra^ eirl rrjv 26

dpirayqVy aXXa avfipLLâi Kal avvayayelv ehravTO TO, yevrj Tat9 /xeytcrai? dvdyKaL<; Biavorj-

7 6evTa<;. Tr)v B' 'Epaikiav ol piev 'OaTiXiov yrjpLau

Xeyovaiv, avBpa ^FoypLaicov eiriâveaTaTOVy ol Bk

avTov 'VwpLvXov, Kal yevecdai Kal iralBa'i avro),

fiCav puev Ovyarepa Tlpipav, rfj rdêt ttj^ yeve-

creco^s ovTco irpoaayopevdelaav, eva S* vlbv pLovov,

ov ÂoXXlov puev evelvo'i diro t^? yevopLevrjt; dOpoL-aeo)^ vir* avTOv rcov ttoXltcov d)v6pLaaev, ol 8*

vcrrepov *AffiXXiov. dXXd ravra puev laropcov

ZtjvoBoto^; 6 Tpoi^t]VLO<; ttoXXou? e%6t tov<;

dvriXeyovTa<;.

XV. ^FiV Be TO 69 dpTrdôvaL Ta9 rrapOevov^Tore TV)(elv Xeyovai tmv ovk eiriâvcov TLva<;

dyoPTa<; Koprjv to3 re KaXXec ttoXv Kal Ta> pbeyWei

Bcacpipovo-av. eTrel 8' d7ravTcbvTe<; evioi rcov

KpeLTTOvcov eirexîpovv diâipeladaiy ôdv tou9

dyovTa<; a)9 lâXaaiw Kop.iôtev avnjv, dvBpl veco

2 fiev, evBoKipbO) Be Kal XPV^'^V' 'ôvr^ ovv dKov-

aavra^ ev(j)7]p,elv Kal Kporelv eTraivovvra^y eviov<i

Be Kal irapaKoXovOelv dvaaTpe-âvra^ evvoia Kal

J 30

BOMULUS, XIV. 6-xv. 2

themselves to escape. Some say that only thirtymaidens were seized^ and that from these theCuriae ^ were named

;but Valerius Antias puts the

number at five hundred and twenty-seven, and Jubaat six hundred and eighty-three, all maidens. Andthis was the strongest defence which Romuluscould make, namely, that they took only one married

woman, Hersilia, and her by mistake, since they did

not commit the rape out of wantonness, nor evenwith a desire to do mischief, but with the fixed pur-

pose of uniting and blending the two peoples in the

strongest bonds. As for this Hersilia, some saythat she was married to Hostilius, a most eminent

Roman, and others, to Romulus himself, and that

she also bore him children : one daughter. Prima,so called from the order of birth, and one son only,whom Romulus named Aollius, from the greatconcourse^ of citizens under him, but later agesAvillius. However, Zenodotus of Troezen, who givesus this account, is contradicted by many.XV. Among those who ravished away the maidens

at that time, it chanced, they say, that certain menof meaner sort were dragging along a damsel who far

surpassed the rest in beauty and stature ; and whensome men of superior rank met them and tried to

rob them of their prize, they cried out that theywere conducting the girl to Talasius, a young man,but one of excellent repute. The other party, then,on hearing this, shouted and clapped their liands in

approval, and some of them actually turned back^ The thirty divisions into which the three ancient Roman

tribes were divided for political and ceremonial purposes.Cf. Livy, i. 13. 6 f.

* A Greek etymology, connecting the name with iioW-fis,

in throngs.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

^dpiTt Tov TdXaalov, fiera fiorj^ rovvo/jua (fyOej-

yofi€vov<;. acf)'ov 8r) top TaXdaiov ci^pt vvv, co9

"EW?7i/€? rot' 'T/jLepatOf, iirahovaL 'Fcofiatot toI<}

yd/jLoi<;' Kol yap evTV^La (paal "X^prjaaadai irepl

Tr)v yvpacKa top TaXdatop.

ê^TLo<; he XvWa<; 6 Kapxvhopto<;, ovt€ /jlov-

crodP ovT€ 'XâpiTcop e7rt8e^9 dvrjp, eXeyep rjfup oti

T779 dpTrayrjf; (TVP0t]fia ttjp (poyprjp eScoKC TavTrjp 6

3 'V(op,vXo<;. diraPTe^ ovp top TaXdaiop iôcov 01

Ta<; irapOepov^ KOfiitôPTe^;' kol Sid tovto to?? yd-

fiOL<i Trapajxipet to e6o<i. ol Be irXelaToi pofiiôv-

(TLPy COP Kal 'Ioy8a9 io-TL, TrapdKXrjcrtp elpav /cat

TrapaKeXevcTLp et? îXepyiap Kal TaXaalap, outto)

TOT€ T0t9 'FXX7)PIK0L<; OPOfiaCJ-l TCJV îTaXiKCOP

iTTiKe^vfiepojp, el he tovto purj XeyeTai /caKcb<i,

aXV ej^poiPTo 'Vco/jbalot. Tore t^ opo/xaTi t^9

TaXaaia<;, KaOdirep rjfiet^;, eTepav dp ti<; avTiap

4 elKdcreie TnOapcoTepap. eTrel yap ol XafftPOL 7r/?09

Tot'9 *Pa)âtov9 7roXefjL't]aapTe<; BiyXXdyTjcrap, eye-

poPTO (TVpOrJKai Trepl tcjp yvpacKCJP, ottco^; fiySep

dXXo epyop Tot9 dpSpdaip rjra irepl ttjp TaXaalap

vTTOvpycbac. irapefieipep ovp Kal tol<; av6i,<; ya-

/novai T0U9 SiB6pTa<; 7) TrapaTrifiTroPTa^ 7) oXco^

irapoPTa^j dpa^wpelp top TaXdaiop fieTa TraiBidf},

fjiapTvpofiepov^ ft)9 eV* ovBep dXXo vTrovpyrjfia T779

5 yvpatKo^ rjTaXaalap eLaayop,eP7]<;. Biajjuepei, Be

fiexpi' PVP TO TTJP pvp.<l)7jp avTrjp d(f> avTrj<; /it)

virepâlpeiP top ovBop eU to Bco/judTiop, aWaipofJLeprjp elacpepeaSat, Bed to Kal Tore KOfJLiadrj-

132

ROMULUS, XV. 2-5

and accompanied them, out of good will and favour

to Talasius, shouting his name as they went along.

Hence, indeed, down to the present time, Talasius

is the 'nuptial cry of the Romans, as Hymenaeus is

of the Greeks ;for they say that 1 alasius was

fortunate in his w ife.

But Sextius Sulla, the Carthaginian, a man wholacks neither learning nor charm, told me that

Talasius was the word which Romulus gave as a

watchword for the rape. All those, therefore, whotook the maidens away, shouted "Talasius!" andon this account the custom now prevails at mar-

riages. But most writers are of the opinion—and

Juba is one of them—that the cry is an exhor-

tation and incitement to industry and ^^talasia," as

the Greeks call spimiing, Italian words having not

yet at that time entirely submerged the Greek.Now if this is right, and the Romans did at that

time use the word "talasia" for spinning, as we do,then a more credible reason for the custom might be

conjectured as follows. When the Sabines, after

their war against the Romans, were reconciled with

them, it was agreed that their women should

perform no other tasks for their husbands than those

which were connected with spinning. It was

customary, therefore, at subsequent marriages, for

those who gave the bride away, or escorted her to

her new home, or simply looked on, to cry" Talasius !

"merrily, in testimony that the woman

was led home for no other task than that of spinning.And it continues to be a custom down to the presenttime that the bride shall not of herself cross thethreshold into her new home, but be lifted up andcarried in, because the Sabine women were carried in

133

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

vai îaa6eiaa<i, fXTj elaeXQelv?- evioi h^ XeyovaiKoi TO TTjv KOjiTjv Trj<; ja/JLOVjuevT]'; al)^/iTj Bia-

KpiveaOai Soparuov av/jiôXov elvai rod fiera fiaxv*Kol TToXefjLLKcofi Tov TTpwTOV ôLjiov êvkcrOai' irepl

o)v eTTLTrXeov ev tol<; AItI,ol<; elprjKaixev.

^FiTo\/JLi]6r] fiev ovv 7) apirafyr) Trepl rrjv oktw-

KaiEeKaTTjv rjpepav rod t6t€ fxev %€^tiXlov fir}v6<;,

Avyovarov Se vvv, iv y rrjv rwv KcovadXicov

eopTTjv ayovaiv.XVI. Ol Be â^lvoi iroXkol fiev rjaav koi

TToXefjitKOi, Kcofiaf; Be wkovv aTei'Xîarovf;, ax; irpoa-

rjKov avTol<; fieya (ppovelv /cat p,r] (f)o^€Ladai2 AaKeBaifioviayv clttoikol^ ovaiv. ov firjv aXX'

6pwvT€<s avTOv<; evBeB€fievov<; fieyaXoc? o/irjpevfiaat,

KOL BeBcore^ Trepl tcov Ovyarepcov, Trpeaêi'; airk-

areiKav iTTLeiKrj koX [xerpLa TrpoKokov/ievoL, rop

'Fco/JbvXov uTToBovra ra? K6pa<; avroL<; koI Xvaav-ra TO T?)9 yS/a9 epyov, ecTa ireidol koI vo/jlq)

irpaTTeLV rot? yeveai cptXlav /cat OLKeLOTijTa. tov

Be 'Po)/j.vXov Ta<; jxev Kopa^s firj Trpoiejievov,

7rapaKa\ovuTO<; Be ttjv Koivcoviav Bk')(eaOai tov<;

3 %affLVov<i, ol fiev aXXoi ôvXevofievoi Kal irapa-(TKevaôfievoi, BieTpiôv, "AKpcov Be jSaa-tXeiff;

KevLvr]Ta)V, ainjp OvôeiBrj(; kol Setro? ev TOt<;

TToXe/jLl/COL';, to, TG TTpCOTtt TOXfiyfULTa TOV 'Fcofiv-Xov Bl v7ro'\jria<; €2%€, koI t& Trpa-)(6evTi Trepl Ta<; 27

yvvaifca^; tjBtj <pofiepov rjyovjJievo^ iraaiv elvai fcal

ovK dvexTov, el pur] KoXaadeurj, irpoeâvecTTr) T(p

iroXefio) Kol fieTO, 7roXXrj<; i'^copet Bwdfiewî eir*

*fx)) e\iTt\9uv bracketed by Bekker.

134

I ROMULUS, XV. 5-xvi. 3

by force, and did not go in of their own accord.

And some say also that the custom of parting the

bride's hair with the head of a spear is a reminderthat the first marriage was attended with war and

fighting ; on which topic I have spoken more fully in

my'^ Roman Questions."

^

Leaving such matters aside, the rape was com-mitted on the eighteenth day of the month oncecalled Sextilis, but now, August, on which day the

festival of the Consualia ^ is celebrated.

XVI. Now the Sabines were a numerous and war-like people, and dwelt in unwalled villages, thinkingthat it behoved them, since they were Lacedae-monian colonists, to be bold and fearless. Neverthe-

less, seeing themselves bound by precious hostages,and fearing for their daughters, they sent ambassa-dors with reasonable and moderate demands, namely,that Romulus should give back to them their maidens,disavow his deed of violence, and then, by persua-sion and legal enactment, establish a friendly re-

lationship between the two peoples. But Romuluswould not surrender the maidens, and demandedthat the Sabines should allow community of mar-

riage with the Romans, whereupon they all held

long deliberations and made extensive preparationsfor war. But there was one exception. Acron, kingof the Caeninenses, a man of courageous spirit andskilled in war, had been suspicious of the daringdeeds of Romulus from the beginning, and now that

this violence had been done the women, thinkinghim a menace to all peoples, and intolerable unless

chastised, at once rose up in arms, and with a great^Morals, p. 285 c (Question 87).

^ A liarvest festival, named from Consus. See chapterxiv. 3.

J3S

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 aVTOV Kol 6 'P&)yLtuX,09 Itt' iK€LVOV. yev6/JL€V0t S*

ivo'yjret

koI KaTihovre^ aXkrfKov^ irpovKokovvro

fjid'xêadatftmv cnpaTevfiaTcov iv toI<; ottXol^

cuTpeîovvTcav. ev^dfievof; ovv 6 'Pa)yuu\o9, el

Kparrjaeie koI KaraâXoi, tm Ad (f)6po)v dvaOrj-

(T€tv avTo<; ra oifKa tov dvSp6<;, avrov re Kara-

fidWet KpaTr}(Ta<^ kol Tpeirerai to arpuTevfia

fidxv^ 'yevofjievT}^;, aipel he koI tî/ itoXlv ov fir}v

i^SiK7j(T€ T0U9 ey/carakrjcpOivTa'^, dX)C rf Ta<; olKia^

eKekevcre KadeXovraf aKoXovOelv eh ^Fcop,rjv, 009

7roXtTa9 eVl roL<i taoi^ ecrofievov^.

5 TovTOV pêv ovv ov/c ecmv 6 ri p,aXX,ov rjv^rjae

Tî/ 'V(i}p/r)Vy del TTpocTTroLovaav eaury KaX avv-

vepbovaav ojv Kpartjaeiev' 6 Be 'Fcop^vXa^, <b9 av

p^dXicTTa T^z^ ev'xr^vt& re Ad Kexapca-pêvrjv xal

T0t9 iroXiTaL^ ISelv iTriTepTrrj irapdaxoi' OKS'^d-

p^voîy eirX (TTpaTOTreSov Bpuv erepev VTreppeyeOy,

Kol 8L€p^6p<p(oorev Mairep Tpoiraiov, Koi rcov ottXcov

TOV "Afcpwvo^; eKacTTOV iv Taêi Trepiijpp.oae koI

KaTrjpTTjaev' avT0<; Be ttjv p.ev iaOrJTa irepi-

e^caaaTO, Bd(j)vr) Be iaTeyâTO ttjv KecpaXrjv fcop^co-

6 aav. vTToXa/SoDV Be to) Beîw to Tpoirat-ov a>p,a>

irpoa-epeiBopjevov 6p66v, ifidBiêv i^dp^cyv iiri-

VLKLOV iratavo^ iv ottXol^ eiropbevrf Trj aTpaTia,

Bexopêvcov tcov ttoXitcjv p^To, %a/9a9 kol davpxL-

T09. 17 p>ev ovv TTop^TTT) TOiv av6i,<i 6pldpb^(OV

dpxv^ fccd i^rjkov irapeaxe' to Be Tpoiraiov dvd-

136

ROMULUS, XVI. 3-6

force advanced against him.^ Romulus also marchedout to meet him. But when they were face to

face and had surveyed each other, they challenged

mutually to single combat before battle, while their

armies remained quiet under arms. Romulus,

then, after making a vow that if he should conquerand overthrow his adversary, he would carry homethe man's armour and dedicate it in person to

Jupiter, not only conquered and overthrew him, but

also routed his army in the battle which followed,and took his city as well. To the captured citizens,

however, he did no harm beyond ordering them to

tear down their dwellings and accompany him to

Rome, where, he promised them, they should be

citizens on equal terms with the rest.

Now this, more than anything else, was what gaveincrease to Rome: she always united and incor-

porated with herself those whom she conquered.But Romulus, after considering how he mightperform his vow in a manner most acceptable to

Jupiter and accompany the performance with a

spectacle most pleasing to the citizens, cut down a

monstrous oak that grew in the camp, hewed it

into the shape of a trophy, and fitted and fastened

to it the armour of Acron, each piece in its dueorder. Then he himself, girding his raiment abouthim and wreathing his flowing locks with laurel, set

the trophy on his right shoulder, where it was held

erect, and began a triumphal march, leading off in a

paean of victory which his army sang as it followed

under arms, and being received by the citizens with

joyful amazement. This procession was the originand model of all subsequent triumphs, and the

1 Cf. Livy, i. 10.

137

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Or]fia êperpiov Aib^; iTTcovofidadrj. ro yap ttXtj-

âi (fteplpe 'Vcopâlou KaXov<nv' evâro Se TrXijâi

7 Tov avBpa koI KaTaffaXetv oiripua he to, aKvXa,

^rjal Bdppatv, KaOort /cal Tr)v irepiovaiav oirep,

Xeyouac. TnOavcorepov S' dv Tt<; eliroi hid rrjv

TTpaîV oiTov^ yap ovofidêrai to epyov. av-

Tovpya> he dpLaTela'^ arpaTT^ySt aTparrjybv dve-

XovTt SiEorac tcaOupwaL^ otti/jllcov.

Kal Tpial fi6voL<; tovtov rvx^cv vTrrjpê 'Fco-

fiaiOL<; r]y€fi6(Ti, Trpcorcp 'Pw/iuXct), fcreivavTi tov

lLevLvrjT7}V ^'AKpcova, hevTepo) ôpvrfKifp Yi6aa(p,

TvppTjvov dveXovTi ToXovpuviov, eVl jrao-t Be

KXavhlo) M.apKeXXq)y BpiTOfxdpTOV KpaTijaavTt8 VaXaTOJV âatXicoq. K6(Tcro<; pev ovv /cal Mdp-KeXXo^ TjBrj TeOpL7r7roL<; elarjXavvov avTol ra

Tpoiraia cpepovTC' ^VcDpivXov 3* ovk 6pOa><; ^riaiv

dpp,aTL 'x^pTjo'acrOai, Aiovv(no<^. TapKvviov yap

laTopovac tov AripâpaTov tcov âcriXecov TrpcoTov

eh TOVTO TO a')(rip,a Kal tov oyKov iâpac tou?

dpLapijBov^' eTSpoi Be irpcjTov e^' dpp,aTo(; Opiap>-

êvcrai UoTrXcKoXav. tov Be 'VcopuvXov Td<; elxo-

va^ opdv e<TTLV ev 'IPdojiirj Ta9 TpoiraLOfôpov^ Trefa?

dirdaa^^.

XVII. Mera Be ttjv K.€Vi,V7]T(bv dXcoaiv ert t(ov

dXX(ov Sa^LVcov ev irapacTKeval^ ovtcov, a-vvea-Trj-

crav ol ^lBtJvtjv fcal K.pov<7Tovp,epi,ov Kal 'Aj/t6-

pLvav olKovvTe<i eirl tov<; 'Fcop,aLov<i' Kal fta%i7?

ROMULUS, XVI. 6-xvii. i

trophy was styled a dedication to Jupiter Feretrius^

so named from the Roman word "ferire," to smite ;

for Romulus vowed to s?niie his foe and overthrow

him. And such spoils were called "opima/' because

as Varro says,'^

opes"

is the Roman word for richness ;

but it would be more plausible to say that they were

so called from the deed of valour involved, since"opus

"is the Roman word for deed or exploit. And

only to a general who with his own hand has per-foraied the exploit of slaying an opposing general,has the privilege of dedicating the "

spolia opima"

been granted.Furthermore, only three Roman leaders have at-

tained this honour : Romulus first, for slaying Acronthe Caeninensian ; next, Cornelius Cossus, for killingTolumnius the Tuscan ;

^ and lastly, Claudius Mar-

cellus, for overpowering Britomartus, king of the

Gauls.^ Cossus indeed, and Marcellus, already used

a four-horse chariot for their entrance into the city,

carrying the trophies themselves, but Dionysius^ is

incorrect in saying that Romulus used a chariot. Forit is matter of history that Tarquin, the son of

Demaratus, was first of the kings to lift triumphs

up to such pomp and ceremony, although others saythat Publicola was first to celebrate a triumph ridingon a chariot.* And the statues of Romulus bearingthe trophies are, as may be seen in Rome, all on foot. ^^L^

XVII. After the capture of the Caeninensians, ^Twhile the rest of the Sabines were still busy with

their preparations, the people of Fidenae, Crustu-

merium, and Antemnae banded together against the

* In 436 B.C., according to Livy, iv. 19, 1-5.^ In 222 B.C. See Plutarch's Marcellus^ vii.•Antiq. Rom. ii. 34. * Cf. Publicola^ ix. 5.

139

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yevofJLivr)<f r]TT7j06VT€<; oyLtoto)?, rd^ re iroXet'^ 'P«-

fjLvXo) TTaprjKav ekelv /cat rrjv 'X^copav hdcacrOai

Kal /jLeroLKLaat a(j>a(; aurou? eh 'Vco/jirjv.6 Sk

'Pw/iuXo? rrjv fiev oXXtjv Kareveifie ')(a)pav rot?

iroXiraL^, oarjv 8' elôv ol rcov rjpiraa/jLevcov

TrapOevcov Trarepe?, avTOv<; ex^cv eKeivovf; eiaaev,

2 'EttI TOVTOi^ Papew^ <pepovTe<; ol XolttoI â-

fiivoL Tdriov dTToheiâvTeî a-rparrjjbv iirl ri]v

*V(tifir}v iarpdrevaav' r}v he Bv(T'n-p6ao8o<; y TroXt?,

exovcra 7rp6/3\7jfia to vvv K.a7riTco\Lov, iv ^(j)povpa KadeiarrjKet fcal Tap7r^lo<; iQyefjbODv avT7]<;,

ovx^' Tap7r7)ta TrapOevo^, ft)9 evLoc Xeyovcrtv, evrjOrj

Tov ^VcofjLvXov diroheLKVvovTe'^' dXXa OvydrTjp rj

TapTTTjta TOV apôvro^ ovaa irpovBco/ce rot? Xa-

îV0i<;, eTTLOvfjurja-acra rcov XP^^^^ ^paxtôvLcmjpcovov<; elSe 7r€piK€ifievov<;, Kal jirrjae fiiaObv T779 irpo-

3 hoGia^ a <f)Opolev iv Tat9 dpiarepalf; %€/3<7t. avvSe-

fjuevov Be tov Tariov, vvKToyp dvoLâaa TTvXrjv fiCav

iBeâro tov<; Xafiivov^. ov ^6voLXeLP [xev TrpoBoa-lav, irpo-

Borrju Be fiLGelv aXXa koivov ti tovto irdOo^ earl

7r/)09 Tot'9 TTovTjpov^ Tot9 BeofievoL^ avTOiv, waTTeplov teal %oX7}9 evicov OrjpLcov BeovTac ttjv yap

Xpeiav ore Xafx^dvovcnv dyairSyvTeî, ex^^L^povai4 rrjv KaKiav OTav Tvxôac. tovto Kal 7r/?09 rrjv

HapTT-qtav TOTS TTuOoiV 6 TaT£09 eKcXevae fie/jLvr)-

149

t ROMULUS, XVII. 1-4

Romans,^ and in a battle which ensued, they wereHkewise defeated, and surrendered to Romulus their

cities to be seized, their territory to be divided, andthemselves to be transported to Rome. Romulusdistributed among the citizens all the territory thus

acquired, excepting that which belonged to the

parents of the ravished maidens;this he suffered its

owners to keep for themselves.

At this the rest ot the Sabines were enraged, andafter appointing Tatius their general, marched uponRome. The city was difficult of access, having as

its fortress the present Capitol, on which a guardhad been stationed, with Tarpeius as its captain,

—not Tarpeia, a maiden, as some say, thereby makingRomulus a simpleton. But Tarpeia, a daughter of

the commander, betrayed the citadel to the Sabines,

having set her heart on the golden armlets whichshe saw them wearing, and she asked as paymentfor her treachery that which they wore on their left

arms. Tatius agreed to this, whereupon she openedone of the gates by night and let the Sabines in.

Antigonus was not alone, then, in saying that heloved men who offered to betray, but hated those

who had betrayed ; nor yet Caesar, in saying of the

Thracian Rhoemetalces, that he loved tieachery but

hated a traitor ; but this is a very general feelingtowards the base on the part of those who need their

services, just as they need certain wild creatures

for their venom and gall ;for while they feel the

need of them, they put up with them, but abhortheir vileness when they have obtained from themwhat tbey want. This, too, was the feeling whichTatius then had towards Tarpeia, when he ordered

1 Of. Livy, i. U.

VOL. I. T7 ^4^

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiivovf; Toov 6fi6\oyt(ov tou? âfiivov^ fiTjBevo^

avrfj (j>doveLV oyv iv rat? apiarepacf; exovcn. koI

TT/JWTO? cbfia Tov ^pa'x^LOVLo-rrjpa r?}? )(êipo<;

irepieXoov koX tov dvpeov iireppiyjre, Trdvrcov Be

avTo TTOLOvvTcov âWofievT] T6 tS> 'x^pvaat kol

KaTaxeôÔelcra rot? Ovpeol^ viro 'ir\r)6ov<; koI

5 pdpovr)al

VaXpav XovXttlkiov laropelv, rwz^ 3' dXka irepl

Tap7rrjLa<; \ey6vT0)v diriOavov p,ev elcnv oi Tariov

Ovyarepa tov r^yepbovo^ tcov Xafftvcov ovaav av-

TTjv, *V(DpLv\(p Be îa avvotKovaav, l(TTopovvTe<;

TavTa TToirjcrai koI TvaOelv virep tov TraTp6<;' wvKoX

*

AvTiyov6<; ecFTt. îpvKo^ 8' 6 7roi,r)Tr]<i koi

iravTairaaL Xijpei pur) âfiLvoi<; ol6pLevo<;, dWaKeXToU TTjv TapTTTjcav irpoBovvat to KaTrcTcoXiov

ipaaOelaav avTcov tov fia(TcXeo)<;. Xeyec Be

TavTa'

*H S' dyxpv TdpTreta irapal K-aiTLTcoXiov oItto^

vaiovaa *Fcopbr]<i eirXeTO ret^ôXeri?,

KeXrcoi^ fj (TTepâaa yapL7]Xia XeKTpa yeveaOat

GKiiTTTovytpi TTaTepwv ovK e(pvXa^€ BopLovf;,

fcal pcT oXiya irepl ttJ? TeXevr^?*

Tr]v S' ovT ap Boiot t€ ical edvea puvpia KeXrcoz^

XVpdpevoL peldpcov eWo9 eOevTo lidBov

oirXa B* €7ri7rpofiaX6vT€<i dpeipbaveayv diro xeipwv

Kovprj eVt (TTvyepy Koapuov edevTO ôvov,

142

ROMULUS, XVII. 4-5

his Sabines, mindful of their agreement, not to

begrudge the girl anything they wore on their left

arms. And he was first to take from his arm not

only his armlet, but at the same time his shield, andcast them upon her. All his men followed his

example, and the girl was smitten by the gold andburied under the shields, and died from the numberand weight of them. And Tarpeius also was con-

victed of treason when prosecuted by Romulus, as,

according to Juba, Sulpicius Galba relates. Of those

who write differently about Tarpeia, they are worthyof no belief at all who say that she was a daughterof Tatius, the leader of the Sabines, and was livingwith Romulus under compulsion, and acted andsuffered as she did, at her father's behest ; of these,

Antigonus is one. And Simylus the poet is alto-

gether absurd in supposing that Tarpeia betrayedthe Capitol, not to the Sabines, but to the Gauls,because she had fallen in love with their king. Theseare his words :

—''And Tarpeia, who dwelt hard by the Capitolian

steep.Became the destroyer of the walls of Rome ;

She longed to be the wedded wife of the Gallic

chieftain.And betrayed the homes of her fathers."

And a little after, speaking of her death :—

" Her the Boii and the myriad tribes of GaulsDid not, exulting, cast amid the currents of the

Po;But hurled the shields from their belligerent arms

Upon the hateful maid^ and made their orna-

ment her doom."

<43

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XVIII. Trj<; fievTOi Tap7rr]ta<; ixec ra<j)eLcrrj<; 6

\6(f)0<! ODVOfMctêro Tapirrjio^;, axpi ov TapKWiovpacTiXew^ Ail tov tottov KaOiepovvro^ dpa re ra

'K€L'\jrava fjL€T7jv6X0V Kol Tovvofia T779 Tap7rr)ia<;

iêXtTre. Trkrjv irirpav en vvv ev Ta> lâimcoXiw

Tapirrjiav KaXovaiv, a(j> 179 ippLTrrovv tov<:

KaKovp<yov<;.2 ^RôfiivT}^ Be T^9 aKpa<; viro twv â/Slvcov, o re

Vwp,v\o<; VTT* 6pyrj(; et9 /J,d)(r]v avrov^ Trpovxa-XcLTO, KoX 6 TaTi09 iOdppei, fcaprepdv, el ^la-cOelev, dvaxwpTjaiv opcjv avrol^ v7rdp')(ôvaav.6 yap /jLcra^v T07ro9, iv cS (rvfjuTrLTrTeiv ejjLeXXoVtVTTO iToXXwv X6<p(ov 7r€pi€'x,o/JL€vo<; dycova p.ev o^vviBoKCi KoX ')(aXeTrov viro

Bvcr'^^copLaf; dpôTepoi<;

irapeêiv, ^1/709 Be koI Bi(i)êi,<; iv crrevo) 0pa-3 'xêia^. GTVxê Be tov TTorafiov XtfivdaavTo<i ov ttoX-

Xat? irporepov r)/jLepai<;, eyKaraXeXelcpOai reXpâ

âOv Kol TV^Xov iv T07rot9 €7ri7reSoi9 Kara rriv

vvv ovaav dyopdv odev ovk r]v o^frei TrpoBrjXoVtovB* €V(j)vXaKTov, dXXco^ Be ')(âXe7rov Kal vttovXov.

fiTrl TOVTO Tot9 Xaîvoi,<; direLpia êpopevoi^ evrv-

4 %^/â yiyveraL. Kovprw^ yap dvrjp i7rc(j)avij<f,

Bo^Tj Kal (j)povrjp.aTt yavpo^, Xttttov e%<yz/ ttoXv

TTpo TMV aXX(ov ix(*>per Beâpêvov Be tov fiapd-

dpov tov Xttttov a'xpi P'GV tivo^ iTreipaTO TrXrjyfj

Kal TTapaKeXevaei ypoopevo^ iêXavveiv, 0)9 S* "^v

dpbr)XCLvov, idaa<; tov Xttttov eavrov eawêv. 6

fieV OVV TOTTOV Bl EKetVOV €TL VVV KovpTlO^; XdKKO<i

ovopdêrar c^vXa^dpevoi Be tov klvBvvov 01 Sa-

Plvoi pid^V^ KapTepdv ipba^âavTO Kpiaiv ov

Xaffovaav, Kairot ttoXXcov TreaovTwv, ev 0I9 ^v Kal

«44

ROMULUS, XVIII. 1-4

XVIII. However, Tarpeia was buried there, andthe hill was called from her Tarpeius, until KingTarquin dedicated the place to Jupiter, when her

bones were removed and the name of Tarpeia died

out, except that a cliff on the Capitol is still called

the Tarpeian Rock, from which they hurl male-

factors.

The citadel thus occupied by the Sabines,^ Romulus

angrily challenged them to battle, and Tatius wasbold enough to accept, since he saw that the Sabines,if worsted, had a strong place of retreat. For the

intervening space, in which they were to join battle,

being surrounded by many hills, seemed to imposeupon both parties a sharp and grievous contest,

owing to the difficulties of the field, where flight and

pursuit must be narrowly confined and short. It

happened, too, since the river had overflowed not

many days before, that a deep and blind slime hadbeen left in the valley where the forum is now.Wherefore it was not apparent to the eye, nor yet

easy to avoid, and besides it was soft beneath the

surface and dangerous. On to this the Sabines were

ignorantly rushing, when a piece of good fortune be-

fell them. Curtius, a conspicuous man among them,

eager for glory and high design, was advancing onhorseback far in front of the rest, when his horse

sank in the gulf of mud. For some time he tried

to drive him out, with blows and cries of encourage-ment, but since it was impossible, he abandonedhis !iorse and saved himself Accordingly, the placeto this day is called from him "lacus Curtius." Butthe Sabines, having avoided this peril, fought a

sturdy fight, and one which was indecisive, although1 Cf. Livy, i. 12.

US

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

5 'OcTTtXfo?. TOVTOV 'Ejp(TL\la<; avhpa koI TrdTTirov 29

'OanXiov tov fiera Noyu-az/ jBaaLkevaavTo^ ye-

viaOai Xiyovaiv. av6i<; Be ttoWojv aycovcov iv

Ppa')(e'l (TUVLarajjLeveoVf co? €Ik6<;, ezô? fiaktara rod

Tekevraiov fivrffiovevovcnv, iv c5 *¥a)/xvXov rrjv

Ke<â\7)v irXriyevTo^; \i6(p /cat Treaeiv oXiyov Berj-

aavTO^ TOV t avrixetv vêîevov rot^ â0LVOi,<i,

iviBwKav ol 'Tco/ialoL kol (^vyfj irpoî to YlaXaTiov

6i')(^(opouv iô)6ov/jLevoL twv iTrcireScov. ySrj Be 6

*Pa}fjLvXo<; e/c r^? 7rXr)yrj^ avacpepcov i/3ovX€TO fiev

6t9 Ta oTrXa 'Xfopelv rot? (pevyovaiv evaPTL(o<;, koX

fieya jSoMV taTaadai kol fid)(êaOai irapefcdXei,.

TToXXrjfi Be T^9 (f)vyr)<i avTcp irepi')(eop.evri<; koI

/jLi]Bev6<; dpa(7Tp€(f)€LV toX/jlwvto^ , dvaTeiva^ eh

ovpavov Ta9 %€i/3a9 ei/faro t& Ail aTrjaat to

(TTpaTev/ia kol to, ^Vayfxaiwv irpdyfiaTa ireoovTa

7 iJLT] rrepuBetv, dXX^ opOwaac. yevofievr)<; Be t%evxv'î ctlBd)<; re tou jâcriXeco'^ ^(^X^ 7roXXov<; koL

ddpao^ eK /jLeTal3oXri<; TrapecrTrj T0Z9 (pevyovaiv.

€aT7]<TaV OVV TTpCdTOV CV VVV 6 TOV Al,6<; TOV

STaT0p09 'iBpvTat veco^, ov enria-TdcTLOv dp t^9

ep/jLrjvevo-eiev' elTa avvaaiTLaavTe<; irdXiv ecoaav

6iria(o Tovf; XaPivov^ eirl tt^v vvv 'VrjyLav irpocr-

ayopevofievrjv kol to t^9 'EcrTta9 lepov.XIX. ^KvTavOa S* avTou<; wairep ef virapxv^

fidx€odai 7rapa(TK€vaôfjL€vov<i iireax^ Beivov IBelv

Oea/xa koI Xoyov KpeiTTwv o-^c^;. at yap ypTra-

ajxevai dvyaTepe^ tmv XajSivcov uxpOrjaav dXXa-

XoOev dXXai fieTO, (3orj^ Kal oXoXvy/iov Bed tcop

ottXcov (pepojjievai koI tS)v veKpwv, oiairep ex Oeov

Hi

ROMULUS, XVIII. 5-xix. i

many fell, among whom was Hostilius. This man,

they say, was husband of Hersilia ^ and grandfatherto the Hostilius who was king after Numa. After-

wards many conflicts raged within a short time, as

might be expected, but one is most memorable,

namely the last, in which Romulus was hit on the headwith a stone and almost fell to the ground, abandon-

ing his resistance to the Sabines. The Romans

thereupon gave way and began to fly to the Palatine,now that they were repulsed from the plain. But

presently Romulus, recovering from his blow, wishedto stem the tide of fugitives and renew the battle,and called upon them with a loud voice to stand and

fight. But as the waves of flight encompassed himand no man dared to face about, he stretched his

hands towards heaven and prayed Jupiter to stayhis army and not suffer the Roman cause to fall, but

to restore it. No sooner was his prayer ended than

many stopped out of reverence for their king, and

courage returned to the fugitives. They made their

first stand, then, where now is the temple of JupiterStator, which epithet might be interpreted as Stayer.Then they closed their ranks again and drove the

Sabines back to where the so-called Regia^ now

stands, and the temple of Vesta.

XIX. Here, as they were preparing to renew the

battle, they were checked by a sight that waswonderful to behold and a spectacle that passes

description.^ The ravished daughters of the Sabines

were seen rushing from every direction, with shouts

and lamentations, through the armed men and the

1 Cf . chapter xiv. 6 f.

2 In historical times, the house of the Pontifex Maximus.See Nurruif xiv. 1.

^ Cf. Livy, i. 13.

147

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kdroôf', 7rp6<i re tou? avSpa<i avrcjv Kal Tot»9

iraripa^, at fiev iraiBia KOfiHôvaat vrjina 7rpb<;

Tai9 dyxaXai^;, at he ttjv ko/jltjv irpolaxofJievaL

XeXvjxevTjv, irdaai 8* avaKakov/nevai rolft <î\Td-

TOi? ovofiaa-L irore fiev tov<s '2afitvov<;, irore Se

2 Tou? *VwiJLalov<i. iireKXdaOrjaav ovv ajxôTepoi,

KoX Biiaxov avTal<; iv pueacp KaTaa-TrjvaL t^9

irapardêcoî' Kal KkavOfio^ djiia Sia irdyrcav e%w-

pei, Kal TroXu? oIkto<; rjv tt/oo? t€ ttjv 6'îv Kal

TOv<; Xoyov^ ert fxaXkov, el^ iKeaiav koI Berjaiv

CK BiKaioXoyia'; Kal irapprjala^; TeXevTwvra^;, **Tt

3 yap {eipaaav) v/jbd<; Setvov rj Xvirrjpop ipyaad-

fievaiy rd fiev rjhr] ireirovdap.ev, rd Be Trdaxofiev

Twv a')(€TXi(iC)v KaKMv; r)p7rdadr]fjL€v viro tmv vvv

i')(^6vT(ov fila Kal nrapavopiw^, dpTraadeLcrat S*

'^/xeX'^drj/jLev vtt* dBeXcpcov Kal irarepccv Kal ol-

KCLcov XP^ô^ ToaovTov 0(T0^ rjjjbdf; TTyoo? rd exOi-

crra Kepdora^ rat? ixeyicnai^ avdr/Kai^, TreTroirjKe

vvv virep rcov ^laaa/jbivcov koI 7rapavop,T)crdvTO)v

4 BeBiivai /laxo/Jiivcov Kal KXaUiv Ovtjctkovtcov, ov

ydp rfkOere Tifi(oprjaovT6<; rjficv irapOevoL^ ovaai^;

€7rl Tou? dBiKovvra^, dXXd vvv dvBpcov aTTocrTrare

yafierd^ Kal reKvcov /jLijrepa^, OLKrporepav ôrj-

Oeiav iKeLvr)<; rrj^ ajjieXeia^; Kal 7rpoBoaLa<; ôrj-

0ovvTe<; r)plv Tat<i ddXiat^. Toiavra /xev riyairr)'

6rm,€v vTTo TovTcov, TOtavTa Be i/^' upufov ikeov-

fjLeOa. Kal ydp el Bt* dXXijv alriav ipLdxecrde,

iravcraaOai Bl rjixdfi irevOepov^s yeyovora^ Kal

148

ROMULUS, XIX. 1-4

dead bodies, as if in a frenzy of possession, up to

their husbands and their fathers, some carrying

young cliildren in their arms, some veiled in theii

dishevelled hair, and all calling with the most

endearing names now upon the Sabines and now

upon the Romans. So then both araiies weremoved to compassion, and drew apart to give thewomen place between the lines of battle; sorrowran through all the ranks, and abundant pity wasstirred by the sight of the women, and still more

by their words, which began with argument and

reproach, and ended with supplication and entreaty.

"Wherein, pray (they said), have we done youwrong or harm, that we must suffer in the past, andmust still suffer now, such cruel evils? We were

violently and lawlessly ravished away by those to

whom we now belong, but though thus ravished, wewere neglected by our brethren and fathers andkinsmen until time had united us by the strongestties with those whom we had most hated, and madeus now fear for those who had treated us withviolence and lawlessness, when they go to battle,

and mourn for them when they are slain. For yedid not come to avenge us upon our ravishers whilewe were still maidens, but now ye would tear wivesfrom their husbands and mothers from their children,and the succour wherewith ye would now succour

us, wretched women that we are, is more pitifulthan your former neglect and abandonment of us.

Such is the love which we have here enjoyed, suchthe compassion shown to us by you. Even if yewere fighting on other grounds, it were meet that

ye should cease for our sakes, now that ye are

become fathers-in-law and grandsires and have

149

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

5 TraTTTrou? Ka\ oiKCiOV^ ovra? ixPV^' ^* ^ vTrep

rjficjv 6 TToXeyuo? iari, Kojiicradde rjfid^; fierh

ya/jb^pcov KoX reKvoiV koI airohoTe rjfuv irarepa^Kol oIk€lov<;, fjLTjBe acpiXrjaOe iralBai; /cal dvBpa<i,

lK6T€V0fi€v vfjLd<; jjLT]iTakiv al'X^jxaXwrot, êvkaOai^^

Toiavra TroWa t^9 *E/)o-£Xta9 irpoayopev-

ovar)^ /cal rcov dWcov heofievtov, iaireiadrjcTav

6 avox'Oii' fcal avvrjXdov eU \6yov<; ol rjje/jLovei;, at

Be <yvvalK6<; iv tovto) toI<! Trarpdai kuI Toif:

dBe\.cf)OL<; tov<; dvBpa<; irpoarjyov fcal rd rcKva,^

irpoaicpepov re rpocj^rjv xal ttotov to?9 Beofi6voL<;,

Kol Tou? T€Tpcofi6vov<: iOepdirevov OLxaBe Koixi"

ôvaar koI Trapelxpv opav dpôixra^ fiev avrdf;

Tou o'lkov, TTpoaexovraf; Be rov<; dvBpa<; avTal<; 30

7 Kal fjL€T evvoia<; TCfirjv diraaav ve/jLOVTa<;. ck

TOVTOu (TVVTiOevrai twv fiev yvvaiKwv ra? jôvXo-

fjLeva<; avvoiKelv tol^ exovaiv, ojairep €ip7)Tai,

7raz/T09 epyov /cal 7rdcrr)<; XarpeLa^; ifKrjv Ta\aa[a<f

d<j)€i/JLiva(;' ol/celv Be /coivrj rrjv ttoXlv *Pa)/jt.aLov<:

Kal SajSivovfi, /cal /caXeladai fiev 'Pco/ijL7)v eirl

*V(Dfiv\(p rrjv TToXtv, KvpLTa<i Be *P(OfiaLOV<i

diTavTa<i eirl rfj Tariov TrarpiBif âaiXeveLv Bk

KOivy /cal a-rparrjyetv djiKporepovfi, oirov Be

ravra avveOevro fJie^pi' vvv Kofivriov /cdXeiTai*

KOfupe yap 'Fco/jLatoi to avveXOelv KaXovai.

XX. Ai7rXa<TLaadela-rj<; Be t^9 TroXeo)^, e/carbv

fiev i/c âîvcov irarpl/cioi irpoaKaTeXeyO'qdaVy at

^ Ta rhcva Coraes and Bekker, after Reiske : rUva.

ROMULUS, XIX. 5-xx. i

family ties among your enemies. If, however, thewar is on our behalf, carry us away with your sons-in-

law and their children, and so restore to us ourfathers and kindred, but do not rob us of ourchildren and husbands. Let us not, we beseech

you, become prisoners of war again."

Many such appeals were made by Hersilia, andthe other women added their entreaties, until a

truce was made and the leaders held a confer-

ence. Meanwhile the women brought their hus-bands and their children and presented them to

their fathers and brothers ; they also carried foodand drink to those that wanted, and bore thewounded to their homes for tender nursing ; here

they also made it evident that they were mistresses

of their own households, and that their husbandswere attentive to them and showed them all honourwith good will. Thereupon agreements were madethat such women as wished to do so might continue to

live with their husbands, exempt, as aforesaid,^ fromall labour and all drudgery except spinning ; also

that the city should be inhabited by Romans andSabines in common ; and that the city should becalled Rome, from Romulus, but all its citizens

Quirites, from the native city of Tatius ^; and that

Romulus and Tatius should be joint kings and leaders

of the army. The place where these agreementswere made is to this day called Comitium, from theRoman word "

conire," or "coire," to come together.

XX. The city thus doubled in its numbers, a

hundred of the Sabines were added by election

to the Patricii,^ and the legions were enlarged

* Cf. chapter xv. 4 *Cures, a Sabine town.

' Cf. chapter xiii. 1.

151

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Bk \€y€a)i/€fi iyevomo ireâyv fiev cfaArto-îXtG)!/,

iirirewv Se eâKocrlcov, ^vXa<i Be rp€L<; /caraari^-

<TavTe<; tovofjiaaav rovq fiev airo 'Poj/auXou 'Vafi-

v^varjî, Tou? Be airb Tartov TaTLtjvay's' TpiTov<;

Be AovKepr]V(T7]<; Bi,^ to aXo-o9, €t9 o ttoWoI Kara-

^vyovre^, aavXla^; BeBo/jiev'r)<;, rov iroXiTevfUiTOf;

2 fierea-xov to, S* aXa-r) \ovkov<; ovofidôvaiv. ort

B* rjaav ai <^v\a\ roaavrai, rovvojia pâprvpel-

TpLôv<; yap ere vvv ra? (fivka^ fcaXovai, xal

rpiôvvov<; Tovv\dpôv<i. eKaaTij Be (j)v\r)

BcKa (jiparpia^ eZêv, a? evLoi Xeyovaiv eiroivviJLov^

elvai eiceivcov rcov yvvaiKcov. rovro Bk Bo/cel

yjr€vBo<; elvav iroWal yap e'xpvaiv diro ')(a)pL(ov

3 Ta<; irpo(T7]yopia<i. dWa jxevToi iroXXa raU yv-

vai^lv eh tlixtjv diriBcoKav, wv kol ravrd eariv

eîaTaaOaL fiev oBov fiaBiôv(Tai<;, ala^^pov Be

firjBeva firjhev elirelv TTapovarj^; yvvaiKo^y firfB*

6(f)df]vav yvfivov, rj BUrjv (jyevyeiv irapd Toh eirl

T(ov (povtKfov Ka6e(Tro}(Tiy cpopeiv Be kuI tov9 Tral-

Ba<; avTcov tî/ KaXovfievrjv ôvXXav diro tov

(T')(riiJbaTOfi, ofioiov 7ro/jL<j)6Xvyi, ireptBeppacov ri

Kal irepiTTopc^vpov.4 ÊôvXevovTo Be ol fiaaCXeh ovk evOiif; ev

KOLVtp fier dXXi]XcoVf dXX* eKdrepo^ irporepov IBia

jiera tcop eKarov, elra ovr(0(; e/? ravrov diravTa^

avvrjyov. wxec Be Tarto? /u.€i/ oirov vvv 6 t^9

Mov^Tr}<; va6<i icrri, 'ôy/jLvXo<; Be irapd tov<;

XeyoiMevovs âOpbovf; xaXr}^ a/cr?}?.^ ovroi Be elal

*KaKrjs &Krris a corruption of Kdnov ? Cf. Diodorus, iv.

21, 2.

ROMULUS, XX. 1-4

to six thousand footmen and six hundred horse-

men.^ The people, too, were arranged in three

bodies, the first called Ramnenses, from Romulus ;

the second Tatienses, from Tatius ; and the third

Lucerenses, from the grove into which many betook

themselves for refuge, when a general asylumwas ofFered,2 and then became citizens. Now the

Roman word for grove is" lucus." That these

bodies were three in number, their very name

testifies, for to this day they call them tribes, andtheir chief officers, tribunes. And each tribe had

ten phratries, or brotherhoods, which, as some say,were named after the thirty Sabine women ;

^ but

this seems to be false, since many of them bear the

names of places. However, they did make manyother concessions to the women, to do them honour,some of which are as follow : to give them the rightof way when walking ; not to utter any indecent

word in the presence of a woman ; that no manshould be seen naked by them, or else that he be

liable to prosecution before the judges of homicide ;

and that their children should wear a sort of neck-

lace, the "bulla," so called from its shape (which was

that of a bubble), and a robe bordered with purple.The two kings did not at once hold council in

common with one another, but each at first sat with

his own hundred councillors apart, then afterwards

they united them all into one body, as at the presenttime. Tatius dwelt where now is the temple of

Moneta, and Romulus beside the so-called Steps of

Fair Shore ;* these are near the descent into the

^ Cf. chapter xiii. 1.' Cf. chapter ix. 3.

' Cf. chapter xiv. 6.* The Greek text is probably corrupt. The ** Bcalae Caci,"

or Steps of Cacus, must be meant.

153

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irepX rrjv el^ rbv iTnrohpofjbov top fieyav ex Ha-5 Xarlov Kardâaiv. ivravOa Be koI rrjv Kpd-

veiav 6<f)aaav rrjv lepav yeyovevaty fivOo\oyovvT€<;on 7r€ip(t)/jL6vo}9 alxP'V^ €t9 fidOo<;,

dvaairdaat fiev ovBeh Treipco/juevwv ttoWcov

taxyae, to Be ^vXov eareêv r/ yrj ^co(f)VTO<; ov(ra,

Kal ^\a(TTov<; dvrjKe koI a-reXexp'^ €\jfieye9e<i

Kpaveia<i eOpe'ê. rovro S* ol fiera ^VwjxvXov0)9 6v ri T(ov dyicoTdrcov lepcov ^vkdrrovref; koI

6 aefiofievoL Trepiereixto-av. oro) Be Trpoacovrc B6-

êie fir] Oakepov elvai fiyBe x^copov, d\X* olov

drpocfielv Kai (jidlvecPy 6 fxev evdi)^ ecppaê fcpavyrjT0fc9 irpodTvyxdiova-tv, ol B\ (oairep ipLTrprjcrjjbai)

ôrjOovvre^, iffocov vBwp, vBcop} koX ctvvq-

Tpeôv iravraxoOev dyyela irkripr) ko/jllôvt€<;

iirl TOV TOTTOV. Tatov Be KaLaapo<i, a>^ (paai,Ta9 dva^daeif; iiria-KevdôvTO<i xal rcov rexyiroov

irepLOpvrrovTwv rd ttXtjo-lov, eXadov at piâiKaKcoOelaat TravrdTraai Kal ro <^vtov ifiapdidr].XXI. yirjva^ fiev ovv ol lâ^lvoL rov<s 'Pwfiaiwv

iBeâvTO, Kal irepX avrcov oaa koXm^; eZ;êy ev too

Ôfjid /3ta) yeypaiTTai' Ovpeol^ Be tol<; eKeivcov 6

*lPa)fiv\o<; ixprjcraTO, kol fieTeâXe top oTrXiafjUoveavTOV Te koI twv ^FcojjLaicov, Âpyo\iKd<; irpore-

pov daTriBa^; <j>opovvTwv. eopTOiv Be koI OvaiSiv

dXXrjXoi^; /ji,€T€lxov, a9 fêv ^'^/e Ta yevrj irpoTepovov/c dveXovreî, erepa^ Be Oe/xevoL Kaivd<;, wv

i]t€

tS)V MaTpojvaXicov ecTTL, BoOelaa Tat9 yvvai^lv*

i/Swp, vZ(cp with two Bodleian AISS. (B»b) ; Zloap.

^54

L

ROMULUS, XX. 4-xxi. i

Circus Maximus from the Palatine. There also, it is

said, grew the sacred cornel-tree, of which the

following tale is told. Romulus, once, in trial of his

strength, cast thither from the Aventine hill a spear,the shaft of which was made of cornel-wood ; thehead of the spear sank deep into the ground, andno one had strength to pull it up, though many tried,but the earth, which was fertile, cherished thewooden shaft, and sent up shoots from it, and pro-duced a cornel-trunk of good size. Those whocame after Romulus preserved this with religiouscare as one of the most sacred objects, and walled it

in. And if any visitor thought that it was not greennor flourishing, but likely to wither away and die,he immediately proclaimed it loudly to all he met,and these, as though helping to save a house on fire,

would cry" Water ! Water !

"and run together

from all sides carrying full buckets to the place.But when Caius Caesar, as they say, was repairingthe steps about the enclosure, and the workmen dughere and there in the neighbourhood, the roots were

inadvertently destroyed and the tree withered away.XXI. The Sabines, then, adopted the Roman

months, about which I have written sufficiently in

my Life of Numa.^ Romulus, on the other hand,made use of their oblong shields, and changed his

own armour and that of the Romans, who beforethat carried round shields of the Argive pattern.Feasts and sacrifices they shared with one another,not discarding any which the two peoples hadobserved before, but instituting other new ones.

One of these is the Matronalia, which was bestowed

upon the women to commemorate their putting a

*Chapters xviii. and xix.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

€7rl Tjj rov TToXe/iiov KaraXvcrei, Kal rj t(ov K.ap-

2 fievToXiwv, ryv Be Kap/Jbivrav oXovrai Tive<^ fiol-

pav elvai Kvpiav av6pcoiroiv y€V6a€(o<;' Bio Kal

rifiaxTLv avTTjv ai /jirjTepe^, oi Be rrjv rov Etvdv- 31

Bpov rov *ApKdBo<; yvvacKa, fjLavriKr,v rtva /cat

(poiâariKTjv i/jufjueTpcov 'x^prjafiwv yevouevyv, Kap-

fjievrav iirovo/jiaadrjvai (ret yap eirrf Kapfitva

KaXovai)' NcKoaTpdrr)^ Be tjv ovofia Kvpiov avr^.

Kal TOVTO [lev o/jLoXoyelrar ttjv Be Kapfievravevioi TTiOavooTepov d<êpiM'r]vevovaLv olov iareprj-

fievr}v vovy Blcl ra^ ev rot? evOovaiaajjuGh frapa-

<f)poavva<;, to /j,ev yap arepeaOai Kaprjpe, p^vre/jb

3 Be rov vovv opop^dôvai,. irepl Be rwv UapiXLcov

irpoelprjrai. ra Be KovirepKoXia ra> piev ')(jpov(p

Boêiev av etvat KaOdpcria' Bparai yap ev r)p,epai<;

diTo^pdai rov êppnvapLov pirjv6<;, ov KaOdpaiovav Tt? epp^rjvevaete, kol t^v r)p,epav eKeivrjv rb

iraXaiov eKdXovv ê/SpaTrjv rovvopa Be t/}?

co/ott}? eXXriviarl aripaLvei AvKaia, Kal BoKei Bia

TOVTO 'jTapL'TrdXaLo<i dir^

KpKoBwv eivai rSyv irepl

4 KvavBpov, dXXa rovro p,ev kolvov iarr Byvarai

yap aTTO tt}? XvKaLvr]<; yeyovevai rovvopa, Kal ycip

dp')(op,evov<; rr;? 7repLBpop,rj<; tou? AovirepKOv^ opw-

pev evrevOev oirov rov 'Pcop^vXov €KTe0)]vai Xeyov-ort. ra Be Bpwp^va rrjv alriav iroiel BvcTroiraarov'

aipdrTovai yap aJya^^ ecra pêipaKicov Bvolv uiro

^liiKoarpar-n Coraes and Bekker with the MSS. : Niko-

crpoLTT) after Stephanas.

'56'

ROMULUS, XXI. 1-4

stop to the war ; and another is the Carmentalia.

This Carmenta is thought by some to be a Fate

presiding over human birth, and for this reason she

is honoured by mothers. Others, however, say that

the wife of Evander the Arcadian,^ who was a

prophetess and inspired to utter oracles in verse,

was therefore surnamed Carmenta, since " carmina"

is their word for verses, her own proper name beingNicostrate. As to her own name there is general

agreement, but some more probably interpretCarmenta as meaning bereft of mind, because of

her ecstasies under inspiration, since " carere"

is the

Roman word for to be bereft, and "mens" for mind.

Of the Parilia 1 have spoken before.* As for the

Lupercalia, judging by the time of its celebration,it would seem to be a feast of purification, for it is

observed on the inauspicious days^ of the month of

February, which name can be interpreted to mean

purification, and the very day of the feast was

anciently called Febrata. But the name of the

festival has the meaning of the Greek "Lycaea,"

or feast of wolves, which makes it seem of great

antiquity and derived from the Arcadians in the

following of Evander.* Indeed, this meaning of

the name is commonly accepted ; for it can be con-

nected with the she-wolf of story. And besides, wesee that the Luperci

^begin their course around

the city at that point where Romulus is said

to have been exposed. However, the actual cere-

monies of the festival arc such that the reason for

the name is hard to guess. For the priests slaughter^ Cf. Plutarch's Roman Questions. 56 {Morals, p. 278 b, c),

and Livv, i. 7, 8 *Clmpier xii. 1.

3 " Dies nefasti." * Cf. Livy, i. 5, 1-2.* Priests of Faunus, the Roman Faa.

»57

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yivov<; irpocra'xPev'rcov avrocf;, ol fiev yjiwyfjuevri

fia'XjDLipa rod /jLercoTrov Oiyyavovcrcv, erepoi B* airo-

fidrrova-Lv evOix;, epLov ê^pey/juevov yaXaKri5 7rpoa^€povT€<;, yeXdv Bk Bel ra fJLeipuKia fxerh rrjv

airofxaîv. e/c Be rourov to. Bepfxara tcov alycov

KarareiMovre^ BtaOeovaiv iv Trepc^cocr/jLacri, yvfjuvoL,

To?<? a/cvreai, top epLiroBoov Traiovre^. at 8' iv

rjXLKia yvvaLKe<; ov (f>€vyovcn to TrateaOac, vo/hlôv-

crai 7rpo9 evroKiav fcal Kvrjacv crvvepyelv. iBtov

Be T?}? eopT7]<; ro koI Kvva Oveiv rov<; AouirepKovi.6 Bovra^ Be rt? alTia<s fxvOiaBet^ iv iXeyeCoi^

irepX TMv 'PcofiatKcov avaypdcfxov, cj^rjal rod *A/jbov-

Xlov Tou? Trepl rbv 'VwiivXov Kparrjaavraî iXOeiv

Bpofiq) fiera %apa9 eVl tov tottov iv c5 vqirloi*;

ovaiv avTol<; r) XvKaiva OrjXrjv v'jrea')(e, kol fJLL/iirjfjLa

TOV re Bpofiov rrjv eoprrjv dyeadai, kol Tpex^tvT0V9 diro yevov<; tou9

^Fj/jLttoBlov^ Tvirrovra^;, ottox; Tore (fxiayav e%ovT€9

ef ''A\yS^9 eOeov 'Pco/zvXo? ^Se 'Pe/i-09.

Kol TO fiev ^L(j)o<; y/juayfievov 'irpo(T<f>epea6at t^/jLercoTTG) TOV Tore (f)ovov koI klvBvvov (TV/jL^0\0V,

TTjv Be Bid TOV ydXaicTo^ diroKaOapaiv vTrofjLvrjfjia

7 T?}9 Tpo(j)7]<;avTcov elvai. Tdlo^ Be

'

Akl\lo<; laTOpel

irpo T^9 KTioreo}<; Ta OpepfiaTa tcov Trepl tov

^FcofjLvXov dcpavrj yeveaOar tov<; Be T(p âvvq)

irpoaevâfievov^ eKBpafielv yvp^vov^ iirl ttjv ^rjTrj-

aiVy 07r&)9 viro tov lBp(aT0<i /jLtj ivo)(\olvTO' Kol

1-58

ROMULUS, XXI. 4-7

goats, and then, after two youths of noble birth havebeen brought to them, some of them touch their

foreheads with a bloody knife, and others wipe the

stain off at once with wool dipped in milk. The

youths must laugh after their foreheads are wiped.After this they cut the goats' skins into strips andrun about, with nothing on but a girdle, striking all

who meet them with the thongs,^ and young married

women do not try to avoid their blows, fancying that

they promote conception and easy child-birth. Apeculiarity of the festival is that the Luperci sacrifice

a dog also.

A certain Butas, who wrote fabulous explanations of

Roman customs in elegiac verse, says that Romulusand Remus, after their victory over Amulius, ran

exultantly to the spot where, when they were babes,the she-wolf gave them suck, and that the festival is

conducted in imitation of this action, and that the

two youths of noble birth run

"Smiting all those whom they meet, as once with

brandished weapons,Down from Alba's heights, Remus and Romulus

ran."

And that the bloody sword is applied to their fore-

heads as a S}T3ibol of the peril and slaughter of that

day, while the cleansing of their foreheads with milkis in remembrance of the nourishment which the babesreceived. But Caius Acilius writes that before the

founding of the city Romulus and his brother oncelost their flocks, and after praying to Faunus, ran

forth in quest of them naked, that they might notbe impeded by sweat; and that this is the reason why

^ Cf. Plutarch's Antony^ xii. 1.

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Bih TOVTO yvfjLvov<i TrepiTpi^êLv tov<; AoviripKOv^,Tov Be Kvva (paur) ri? dv, el fiev rj Ovaia KaOapfio^;

8 i(TTL, OvecOai KaOapalcp ')(p(iiiikvwv avrcp' koI yap'

RXkrjv6<; ev re TOL<i KaOapaioi^ aKuXaxa^ eK<pe-

povai KOL TToWaxov ^(pcovTai rot? XeyojJ-evoL^

irepiaKvXaKKT/jioU' el Sk rfj XvKalvrj %a/)to-T7}/ota

Tavra Kal rpocpela Kal acoTrjpLa 'PcofivXov reXov-

aii', ovfc aroTTO)? 6 kvcov o-cpdrrerar Xvkoi<! yapicFTi 7roXijj,LO<;' el firj vrj Ala KoXdêrai to ^ôvCO? 7rapevo)(Xovv tou? AovirepKovi orav irepi-

deaxTv.

XXII. Aeyerai Be /cal rrjv irepX rb irvp wyi-areiav ^VwfjLvXov Karaarrja-ai, irpcorov, diroBei-

âvra irapdevov^ iepa<; 'EartdBa^; irpoaayopevo-

fievafi. ol Be tovto fjuev 6i9 'No/jluv dvaêpovai,ra 8* aXXa tov 'Fci)/jlvXov Oeocre^rj Bia(f>€p6vT(o^,

€TL Be ixavTiKov laTopovai yevkadai, kcu ôpelveTTt [xavTLKy to KaXovfjuevov Xltvov, ecTi Be Kafju-

ttvXt} pd^Bo<:, fjTO, irXivdla Kadeôfievovi €7r'

2 olcovcov Btaypdcpecv. tovto S* ev HaXaTio) ^v-

XaTTOfievov dcpaviaOijvai irepl to, KeXTiK^ t^9TToXew? dXovarj^' elTa fievToi tmv fiap^dpcovi/CTTcaovTcov evpeOrjvai kuto, re^pa? IBadela^ dira-

6e<; viTO TOV Trvpo^; iv waat rot? dXXoi<; aTroXo)-

X6(TL Kal Bie^dapfievoLfi,

3 "lÔrjKe Be Kal v6fjL0voBpo<; fiev

eaTLV 6 yvvaLKi fir] BlBov^ aTroXeiTreiv dvBpa,

yvpaiKa Be BiBov<; eKâXXeivêirl (pap/jLaKeia xal

^ iK^dWeiv Bekker, after Coraes : 4K0a\ur.

i6o

ROMULUS, XXI. 7-xxii. 3

the Luperci run about naked. If the sacrifice is a

purification, one might say that the dog is sacri-

ficed as being a suitable victim for such rites, since

the Greeks, in their rites of purification, carry forth

puppies for burial, and in many places make use of

the rites called "periskulakismoi ;

" ^ and if these

rites are performed in grateful remembrance of

the she-wolf that nourished and preserved Romu-lus, it is not without reason that the dog is slain,

since it is an enemy to wolves, unless, indeed, theanimal is thus punished for annoying the Luperciwhen they run about.

XXIL It is said also that Romulus first introduced

the consecration of fire, and appointed holy virginsto guard it, called Vestals. Others attribute this

institution to Numa, 2although admitting that

Romulus was in other ways eminently religious, and

they say further that he was a diviner, and carried

for purposes of divination the so-called "lituus," a

crooked staff with which those who take auguriesfrom the flight of birds mark out the regions of theheavens. This staff, which was carefully preserved onthe Palatine, is said to have disappeared when the citywas taken at the time of the Gallic invasion ; after-

wards, however, when the Barbarians had been

expelled, it was found under deep ashes unharmed

by the fire, although everything about it was com-

pletely destroyed.^He also enacted certain laws, and among them

one of severity, which forbids a wife to leave her

husband, but permits a husband to put away his wife

* Sacrifices where puppies were killed and carried about.^ See Numa, chapters ix. and x,' Cf. Camillu8, xxxii. 4-5.

l6l

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rifcvcov v7ro/3oXfj^ /cal /jL0t')(^6vd€C(Tav el 8* aWw? 32

Ti9 aiT07reiJi-\âLT0, t>}9 ovaLa<{ avrov to fxev t^9

fyvvaiKo<; elvai, to Se tt)? A'^/jLr)Tpo<; lepov KeXevwvTov S' aTToBo/jbevov yvvaL/ca OveaOai ')(9ovioL^ Oeol^,

4 Ihiov he TO /jLTjBe/jLiav Blkijv kuto, TraTpoKTovcov

opLcravTa irdorav apBpo(j)oviav iraTpOKTOviav Trpoo"-

eiirelv, co? tovtov fiev 6Vto9 ivayov'i, iKelvov Se

aBvvaTOV. kol fiexpt' XP^^^^ iroWcov eSoêv

opOoi^ aiToyvcovaL Trjv TOiavTrjv aBcKiav ovBel<;

yap eBpaae tolovtov ovBev iv 'Fco/jltj ax^Bov iTOJV

kâKooLwv Biayevofievcov, aXXa 7r/)a)T0? /xeTa tov

ÂvvLîa/cov TToXepLov laTopeiTai AevKLo<; "OaTLo<;

iraTpoKTovo^ yeveaOai. TavTa pbev ovv 'iKava

irepl TovTcov.

XXIII. "Eret Be Tre/xiTTa) Tr]<;TaTiov j3aai\eia<;,

oltceloi Tive<; avTOV koI avyyeve?^ TrpeajSeacv airo

AavpevTOV âBiôvaiv et? 'VcofMrjv evTvxovTe^ Ka9*

oBoVy iirexGipovv aâLpelaOai to, xPVP^"^^ A'^»Kal fiT) 7rpoi€/A6VOf9, dX)C apvvo/j^6VOv<; avelXov.

epyov Be Beivov To\fjirj6evTO'^, o fxev Pto/xt^Xo?

€vdv<i Beiv (peTO KoXdêcrdav tov9 dBiKYjcravTa^y

2 6 Be TdTL0<; iê/cpove Kal iraprjye. Kal tovto

jxovov avT0L<; virrjpêv oltlov ip,(f)avov<; Btacfyopd^'

TO, B' dX\a KaTaKoa/iovvTef; eavTov^ co? evv fid-

XiCTTa KOiV(x)<; exp^^^'ô Kal fied^ ofiovoia^ rot?

irpdyfiacjLV. ol Be twv dvijpTjpevcop oIk€lol, 7racr^9

i^€ipy6/jL€voi BiKr](; vo/jll/jlov Bid tov TdTWV, diro-

KTivvvovcrtv avTov iv Aa^tvUp OvovTa fieTa 'Po)-

fjLvXov irpocnrea-ovTef;, tov Be 'FcofiuXov &>? BiKaiov

^ ivX (papfiaKf^cx Kal Tenvoov uttojSoXtj with Cobet : iir). (pap-

fiaKela reKPcov fj k\€iScov vvofio\y [for poisoning his children or

coiinter/eiting his keys).

162

ROMULUS, XXII. 3-xxiii. 2

for using poisons, for substituting children, and for

adultery ; but if a man for any other reason sends his

wife away, the law prescribes that half his substance

shall belong to his wife, and the other half be con-

secrate to Ceres ; and whosoever puts away his wife,

shall make a sacrifice to the gods of the lower world.

It is also a peculiar thing that Romulus ordained no

penalty for parricides, but called all murder parricide,

looking upon one as abominable, and upon the other

as impossible. And for many ages his judgement of

such a crime seemed to have been right, for no one

did any such deed at Rome for almost six hundred

years; but after the war with Hannibal, Lucius

Hostius is reported to have been the first parricide.So much, then, may suffice concerning these

matters.

XXIIL In the fifth year of the reign of Tatius,some retainers and kinsmen of his, falling in with

ambassadors from Laurentum on their way to Rome,attempted to rob them of their money/ and when

they would not stand and deliver, slew them. It

was a bold and dreadful crime, and Romulus thoughtits perpetrators ought to be punished at once, but

Tatius tried to put off and turn aside the course of

justice. This was the sole occasion of open variance

between them ;in all other matters they acted in

the utmost concert and administered affairs with

unanimity. The friends of the slain ambassadors,shut out as they were from all lawful redress, throughthe efforts of Tatius, fell upon him as he was sacri-

ficing with Romulus at Lavinium, and killed him, but

escorted Romulus on his way with loud praises of his

» Cf. Livy, i. 14, 1-3.

163

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 dvSpa TTpovTrejii'âv eix^rîxovvreq. 6 Be to fi^v

acb/jLa rov Tartov KOfjilaaî ivriixw^; eOayjre, koI

Kelrai irepl to KaXovjjievov ÂpfjuiXovaTpLov iv

^KovevTLVcpy T^9 Se SiV?;? rov ôvov iravTairaaLv

rjfxeXrjaev. evioi Be t(ov avyypa(f)ecov laropovai

TTjv fiev ttoXlv r(ov Aavpevricov ô/3r)0eiaav SkBl-

Bovai TOV<; avr6')(êLpa<^ Tariov, rov Be 'Vo)/jlv\ov

4 aêtvai, (îrjaavra cjiovov <^6vw \e\va6ai,, tovto

Be \6yov pev Tiva irapiaxe /cal vTroyjrlav ©?

a(Tp,evq) yeyovev avro) to tov avvdp)(ôvTO<i diraX-

Xay^vai, twv Be TrpaypâTcov ovBev BieTapaêv,ovBe BiecrTaaiacre tov<; Xa^LVovt;, aXV ol jiev

evvoia ttj irpo'^ avrov, ol Be (po^cp Trj^ Bvvdfieo)^,

ol S' ft)9 Oeo) %/)<»/xei/ot et? irdaav evvoiav} Oav-

pLdôvT€<; BiereXovv,

5 ÊOavpaôv Be iroWol koi tcjv eKTO<; dvdpcoTrayvTOV 'PcopvXov OL Be irpoyeveaTepoL Aarlvoi irifi-

•yâvTe^ aiircp (pikiav eiroLâavTO fcal (TvpLpâyiav.

^tBrjva<; Be elXt^v, daTvyeiTOva Trj<; 'Pco/xt;? ttoXlv,

0)9 p.ev evLoi (pacriv, eâi^vy]<; tol/? iTrirea^; Tre/x-â?Kol KeXevaaf; virorep^lv to)v ttvXmv toi/? arpo-

<piyya<i, elra e7n(})avel(; avTO<; dirpoaBoKrjTa)^'6 erepoi Be \eyouat, 7rpoTepov<; eKelvov^ epLâ\6vTa<;eXdcraadai T6 Xetav koi Kadv^picrat iroXXa ttjv

j^capav KOI TO irpodo-Tecov, ev£Bpa<i Be tov 'Po)-

fivXov Oepêvov avTOL<i koI BtacfideLpavTa ttoWou?

Xapelv TTjv ttoXlv. ov pbrjv dvelXev ovBe xare-

a-Ka-yjrev, dXXd 'Vw/Jbaicov eiroirjaev diroLKiav,*

XpufJ-fvoi els -rracrav ftivoiav MSvS., Coraes ; Bekker corrects

to X 'J!>i^fvov fls vav €Vjxev6i {becaiLSt htaven favoured him in

all his undertakings.)

164

ROMULUS, xxiii. 3-6

justice. Romulus brought the body of Tatius homeand gave it honourable burial, and it lies near the

so-called Armilustrium, on the Aventine hill ; but

he took no steps whatsoever to bring his murderers

to justice. And some historians write that the city

of Laurentum, in terror, delivered up the murderers

of Tatius, but that Romulus let them go, saying that

murder had been requited with murder. This led

some to say and suspect that he was glad to be rid

of his colleague, but it caused no disturbance in the

government, nor did it lead the Sabines into faction,

nay, some through the good-will they had for him,

others through their fear of his power, and others

because they regarded him as a benevolent god,all continued to hold him in reverence to the

end.

Romulus was held in reverence also by manyforeign peoples, and the earlier Latins sent ambas-

sadors and established friendship and alliance with

him. Fidenae, a neighbouring city to Rome, he

took,^ as some say, by sending his horsemen of a

sudden with orders to cut away the pivots of the gates,

and then appearing himself unexpectedly ; but others

say that the men of Fidenae first made an incursion,

driving off booty and devastating the territory and

outskirts of the city, and that Romulus set an ambushfor them, killed many of them, and took their city. Hedid not, however, destroy or raze it to the ground,but made it a colony of Rome, and sent thither

» Cf. Livy, i. 14, 4-lL

165

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Sia-'yîXvov^ KaX TrevraKoaiov^ diroaTelXafi olKrj-

TOpa<; elSoL^ ÂwpLXXiaLf;.XXIV. 'E/c TOVTOV \oLfjLo<; ifjiTrlirret, davdrov^

fjuev al(j)vi8iov<; dvOpîroi^ dvev voawv CTnîpcov,

aTTTo/xei'O? Se Kal Kapirwv dôpiaL<i koX BpepL-

fidroyv dyoviaL<;, vaOrj Be Kal arayoa-iv aL,uaro<;

7] iro\L<i, (0(TT€ TToWrjv irpocryeveaOaL rot? dvay-KaioLp eirl TarUo (TvyKe')(ûfjL€vcov Bl-

Kaicov erri re rot? irpea/Seai (jyovevOelat fjLi]VL/jLa Bac-

2 [jLOVLov d/ii(j)OTepa<; ikavveiv rd^ TroXet?. eKBoOev-

TCdv Be Tcov (povecov Kal KoXaadevTcov Trap" dfiô-

Tepoi<iy eX(0(j)r](Tev €7rLB?jXci)^ rd BeLvd' Kal Kadapfiol^6 'PwfivXos^ rjyvicre Td<s TToXet?, 01)9 en vvv Icrro-

povaiv eirl r?}? êpevTLvrj^ 7rvXri<; avvTeXetadac,

Uplv Be Xrjâi, rov XoifMov eireOevTO Kapbepioi 33

'Vcopaiot<; Kal KareBpa/JLov t^]v ')(û>pav, &)? dBv-3 vdrcov djjivveaQaL Bid to irdOo^. ev6u<? ovv 6

'Pco/ûXo? earpdrevaev eV avrov^s Kal j^dxu

Kparrjaa^; eâKLo-')(iXLOu<; direKreire' Kal rrjv

TToXiv eXcov, rovî fjuev rjjuLLcreLf; rwv Trepiyevo/Jbevcov

6t? 'Foofirju i^MKiae, rwv S' vTrojievovTcov BcirXa-

aiovf; eK ^Vaifirjf; KarcpKia-ev eh ttjv KajLLeplav

Se^TiXCaf; KaXdvBaL<;. roaovrov avrw TrepLrjv

TToXiTcav eKKaiBeKa errj a^^Bov oIkovvti ttjv

*Vd}fji,7jv. ev Be rol<^ dXXoi^ Xa(j)vpoL^ Kal -âXKOvveKopbia-e tWpiiTTrov eK Ka/uLepiaî' rovro Be dve-

crrrjaev ev rS) lepu> rov 'H(âtVToi>, iroLrjad/Mevo*!

eavTov vTTo NlKrjf; crTe<f>avov/jLevoi/,

XXV. OvTco Be p(ovvvp.evoL^ to?9 irpdypxidiv01 fiev dadevearepov tcov TrpoaoiKcov vireBvovTO

166

ROMULUS, XXIII. 6-xxv. i

twenty-five hundred colonists, on the Ides of

April.XXIV. After this, a plague fell upon the land,

brhiging sudden death without previous sickness

upon the people, and afflicting the crops with un-

fruitfulness and the cattle with barrenness. There

was a rain of blood also in the city, so that manysuperstitious fears were added to their unavoidable

sufferings. And when similar calamities visited the

people of Laurentum, all agreed at once that it was

the miscarriage of justice for the death of Tatius

and the slain ambassadors which brought the wrath

of heaven down upon both cities. The murderers,

therefore, were delivered up on both sides and

punished, and the mischief visibly abated. Romulusalso purified the cities with lustral rites, which they

say are celebrated to this day at the Ferentine gate.But before the pestilence had ceased, the people

of Cameria attacked the Romans and overran their

territory, thinking them incapable of defendingthemselves by reason of their distress. Romulustherefore at once marched against them, overcame

them in battle, and killed six thousand of them.

He also took their city, transplanted half of the sur-

vivors to Rome, and sent to Cameria as colonists

from Rome twice the number he had left there, andthis on the first of August. So many citizens hadhe to spare after dwelling in Rome less than sixteen

years. Among other spoils he brought also a bronze

four-horse chariot from Cameria, and dedicated it in

the temple of Vulcan. For it he had a statue madeof himself, with a figure of Victory crowning him.

XXV. The Roman state thus gathering strength,its weaker neighbours submitted to it, and were

167

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

xal TU7%ai;ovT69 aScLa^ riydirwy ol he Bvvarol

8eîOT€9 Kal (j)OovovvT€<; ovfc i()Ovto helv Trepiopdv,

aW* iviaTaaOai rfj av^rjaet fcal KoXovecv top

*T(0/JLV\0V. TTpCOTOl Sc TvppTJVCJV OvYjloi, ')(fOpaV

KCKTrj/iivoL TToWrjv Kal ttoXlv fieydXrjv ol/covvTe<;,

dp'X^rjv eiroLTjaavTO TToXifiov îBo]va(; dTravTelvy

2 ft)? irpoarjKovaav avTot<;. to S* ovk dSiKOV ^v

fxovoVy dXXa Koi jeXolov, on klvSwevovcti t6t€

Kal 7roX€fjLov/jL6voi(i ov irpO(Tapi)vavTe<i, aXV ed-

(TavTe<i diToXeaOai roix; dvhpa^, oiKLa<; koi yrjv

diraiTolev dXXcov i)(^6vrcov. KaOu/Sptadevref; oiw

VTTO Tov 'P(o/jLvXov iv Tat? diroKpideai Slâ SielXov

eafTOu?, Kal r& fxev eireKeivro rw ^Lhrjvwv arpa-

revfiaTi, rw he irpo^ *Va}p.vXov dinjvTCOv, irpo<;

fiev ovv îhrjvai<i hia')(îXL0V<i 'Twpaicov Kparrj-

craz^re? aTreKretvav, vtto *Fo)/jlvXov he viK7]06VTe<s

3 virep OKTaKLaxt'Xiov^ dTrijSaXov. av6i<; he irepl

^ch7]vr]v €/xax^(^civro' Kal to fiev TrXelarov epyovavTOv 'FcojiivXov yeveaOai, Texvjv re fieTo. ToX/jLrjf;

Trdaav eTnheLâ/xivov pdifij) re Kal TrohcoKeia

iroXv h6âvTo<; dvOpwirlvq^; KpeiTTOVi Ke^pv^âi-,7rdvTe<; opoXoyovav to 5* vTr* eviwv Xeyojievov

KO/jLthfj /jiv6(bh€<i ecTTi, fidWov he oXco<i aTTLaTov,

OTi fivpLcov Kal T€TpaKiaxt,Xicov ireaovTCDv virep-

7]jjLLaeL<i rjdav ou? avTo<^ Ihia %6ipt 'P&)/zu\o9 e-

KTeLveVy OTTov ye Kal MeaaT^vLoi, ko/jltto') ^j^prycracrâf

hoKovai irepl ÂptorTo/jLevov; XeyovTe^; co<; TpU€KaT0jjL(f)6vLa Ovaeiev diro AaKehaLfiovLcov.

4Tevo/jLevr]<i he t^9 Tpoirf]^, aêt? (pevyeiv tov?

i68

ROMULUS, XXV. 1-4

satisfied to be let alone ; but the powerful ones, outof fear and jealousy, thought they ought not to

tolerate, but resist and check the gi'ovving power of

Romulus. And of the Tuscans, the people of Veii,who possessed much territory and dwelt in a great

city, were the first to begin war ^ with a demand for

Fidenae, which they said belonged to them. Nowthis was not only unjust, it was actually ridiculous,that they, who had not come to the aid of the

people of Fidenae when they were in the perils of

war, but suffered them to perish, then demandedtheir houses and land from those who had come into

possession of them. Accordingly, Romulus gavethem contemptuous answers, upon which theydivided themselves into two armies, attacked Fidenaewith one, and confronted Romulus with the other.

Before Fidenae, then, they overpowered two thousandRomans and slew them ; but they were defeated byRomulus with a loss of eight thousand men. Oncemore a battle was fought near Fidenae, and here all

agree that the victory was chiefly due to Romulushimself, who displayed every possible combination of

skill and bravery, and seemed endowed with strengthand swiftness far beyond the lot of man. But thereis a statement made by some Avriters which is alto-

gether fabulous, nay ratlier, wholly incredible, name-

ly, that of the fourteen thousand Tuscans who fell in

this battle, more than half were slain by Romuluswith his own hand ; for even the Messenians seem to

have been boastfully extravagant in saying thatAristomenes thrice offered sacrifice for a hundredLacedaemonian enemies slain.

After the rout of the enemy, Romulus suffered the

» Cf. Livy, i. 15, 1-5.

169

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irepiovraî 6 'P<w/>tuXo9, eV avrrjv i^^copec rrjv

TToXiv 01 3' ovK qvka-ypvTO fie'yaXr)'^ av/j,(f)opd<^

'yevofjLevr)<^y aXka Serjdivre^ ofioXojlav iiroirjaavroKoi (ptXiav 6t9 errj cKarov, ')((opav re iroWrjv

TTpoe/jiei'oi T?79 eavrcov, rjv XeTTTe/jbTrdyiov koXov-

aiv, oirep iarlv iirTa/jiopiov, Kal tcov irapa rov

irora/jbov eKaTavreî dXoTrrjyicov, Koi irevTrjKovTa5 T(hv dpLdTcov OfjLtjpov; iyêtpL(7avT€<;, iOpidfJL-

fievae Be xal cltto tovtcov elBol^ ÔKTio^plaL^,aXkov^ T€ TToWoix; al'X^/iiaXdorov^ ^X<w^ '^<3tl top

TfyefJiova tcov Ow]i(ov, dvhpa TrpecrffvTrjv, a(j)p6vci)<;

BoâvTa Kal Trap' rfKiKiav dTreipo}^ toI^ Trpdyixaat

KexprjaOai. 8io Kal vvv 6tl 6vovTe<^ iinvLKLa,

jepovra puev dyovai hi dyopd<; eh KuttltcoXlov

iv TT€pL7rop<f)vpw, jBovXXav avTW iraihiKrjv dyjrav-

T€9, Kl]pVTT€l, 8' 6 KTJpV^ XapBiaVOV<i Ct)VL0V<;.

Tvpprjvol yap aTTOiKot âpBiavcov XiyovTaty Tvp-pr)vtKr) Be TToXt? ol Ovrjloi.XXVI. TovTov eaâTOV iroXefiov 6 'Pw/ttuXo?

i7roXefir](T€jf, elB*, o iroXXoi, fiaXXov Be ttXtjv

oXLycov 7rda)(ovai, TrdvTe^ ol jxeydXai^ Kal irapa-

\6yoL<; dp6evTe<i evTV^LaL<; el^ Bvvapiv Kal oyKoVyovS* a^T09 Bci^vye iraOelv, dXX* eKTedappr]Kcb<;TOi? TTpdyfiaai Kal âpvTepw t^povi'jfiaTi XP^~fievo^, iîaTaro tov BijfxoTiKov, Kal irapijXXaTTeveh /MovapXiav iira'^dT] Kal Xvirovaav diro tov

a')(^rifjbaTO^ irpMTOV m KaTea)(rjp.dTi^€v eavrov.

2 dXovpyrj fiev yap eveBveTO 'XîTwva, Kal Trjêvvov 34

€<f>6pet irepL'jTop^vpovy iv Opouo) B' dvaKXtTO)

Kadi]fi€vo<; expv/^^'^^^^^- V^^^ ^^ irepl avTovdel TOdV vecov ol KaXovfievoi KeXepe?, aTro Trj<;

irepl Ta9 virovpyia^ 6^vt7]to^. ifidBiôv Be tt/ooct-

X70

ROMULUS, XXV. 4-xxvi. 2

survivors to escape, and moved upon their city itself.

But they could not hold out after so great a reverse,

and suing for peace, made a treaty of friendshipfor a hundred years, giving up a large portion of

their territory, called Septempagium, or the Seven

Distjicts, abandoning their salt-works along the river,

and delivering up fifty of their chief men as hostages.Romulus also celebrated a triumph for this victory on

the Ides of October, having in his train, besides

many other captives, the leader of the Veientes, an

elderly man, who seems to have conducted the

campaign unwisely, and without the experience to be

expected of his years. Wherefore to this very day,in offering a sacrifice for victory, they lead an old

man through the forum to the Capitol, wearing a

boy's toga with a bulla attached to it, while the

herald cries :" Sardians for sale !

"For the Tuscans

are said to be colonists from Sardis, and Veii is a

Tuscan city.

XXVI. This was the last war waged by Romulus.

Afterwards, like many, nay, like almost all men whohave been lifted by great and unexpected strokes of

good fortune to power and dignity, even he was em-boldened by his achievements to take on a haughtierbearing, to renounce his popular ways, and to changeto the ways of a monarch, which were made hateful

and vexatious first by the state which he assumed.For he dressed in a scarlet tunic, and wore over it a

toga bordered with purple, and sat on a recumbentthrone when he gave audience. And he had alwaysabout him some young men called Celeres, fromtheir swiftness in doing service.^ Others, too, went

* Cf. chapter x. 2 ; and Livy, i. 15, 8.

171

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

0€V erepoi âfcrrjpiai^ aveLpyovre^ rov o'^Xov,

VTre^cocTfievoi Be lixavra^, wcrre crvvBelv €v9v<; ou?

irpocTrdêie.

3 To he Bfj(7ai Aarlvoi iraXai pev \tydp€t vvv Be

aWijdpe KaXovcnv 66ev oi re pa^Bovxot Xiktco-

pei<;, ai re pd^Boi ficiKvXa KoKovvraL, Bta to

')(pria6ai Tore âKTrjpiaL^. €Iko<; Be \t,KTa)p€i<;

ivTiOejbiivov rov KairTra vvv 6vop,dêa6ai, irpo-

repov \iTcop€L<i, 'EWrjvLarl Be \eirovpyov<; opra*;,

\i]'iTOv yap to BrjpôaLOV eTi vvv "KW7]V€<; xal

\aov TO 7rX7]6o<i ovopdôvaw.

XXVII. 'EttgI Be Tov TrdiTTrov ôpbrjTOpo^ ev

"AX^rj Te\evT7](TapT0<;, avrw âaiXeveiv irpoaPjKov,

eh pêcrov eOifKe ttjv iroXLTelav Br/pâycoycoVt koI

KaT eviavTov aTreBeiKwev dpôvTa toU *A\â-

vohy eBiBaê /cal tov<; ev 'Vcop^rj BvvaTov^ dâcri-

XevTOv ^rjretv kol avTovopov TroXLTeiav, dpyp-

pêvov^ ev p^kpei xal dpôvTa^;. ovBe yap oi

Kokovpuevot, TraTpiKtot irpaypidTcov peTel)(ôv, dXk'

ovopua Ka\ a-xfjpa irepcrjv evTipov avTolîy edov<; eve-

Ka pdWov f) yvcopr)^ dOpoLôpevoiî el<; to ôvXev-

2 TtjpLov. etTa (TLyfj irpoaTaTTovTO^ i^KpocovTC koI

TO) TTpOTepot TO BeBoy/juivov eKeivw irvdeaOat tcov

iroXXcop irXeov 6XovTt<; aTrrjXXdTTOvTo. xal TaXXa

puev rjv iXuTTOva- Ti)s Be 7/}? Tr]P BopLKTTjTOv

179

ROMULUS, XXVI. 2-xxvii. 2

before liim with staves, keeping oflT the populace, and

they were girt with thongs, with which to bind at

once those whom he ordered to be bound.

To bind, in the Latin language, was formerly

"ligare," though now it is"alligare

"; whence the

wand-bearers are called "lictores," and the wands

themselves "bacula," from the use, in the time of

Romulus, of "bakteriai," which is the Greek word

for staves} But it is likely that the ^' c"

in the word^^

lictores," as now used, has been added, and that

the word was formerly "litores," which is the Greek"leitourgoi," meaning public servants For the Greeks

still call a public hall "leiton," and the people" laos." 1

XXVIL But when his grandfather Numitor died

in Alba, and its throne devolved upon Romulus,he courted the favour of the people by putting the

government in their hands, and appointed an annualruler for the Albans. In this way he taught theinfluential men at Rome also to seek after a form of

government which was independent and without a

king, where all in turn were subjects and rulers.

For by this time not even the so-called patricianshad any share in the administration of affairs, but a

name and garb of honour was all that was left them,and they assembled in their council-chamber morefrom custom than for giving advice. Once there,

they listened in silence to the commands of the

king, and went away with this advantage only over

the multitude, that they learned earlier what he haddecreed. The rest of his proceedings were of lesser

importance ; but when of his own motion merely

^ For this assumed use of Greek words by the Romans,cf . chapter xv. 3.

VOL. I. r '73

PLUTARCH'S IJVES

avTO^ €(f)eavTOV Saadfievo^ rot<f crpaTKorai^,

/cal TOv<i 6iMrjpov<; rot? Ov7]loi<; aTroSov?, ovre

TretaOevTcov ovre ôvXojjLevcov i/celvfoVf eSoê ko-

3 fxi^^ Tr)V yepovaiav TrpOTrrjXaKiêLV, 06ev eU

vTToyjnav /cal 8Laj3oXr)v iveireae TrapaXoyco*; a<fia-

VLa6evT0avL(T6r]

he v€i>vai<i 'louXtat?, <»? vvv ovopudôvatv, «09 Se

Tore, KvvTiXiat<i, ovSev elirelv î/Saiov ovBe

6/jLoXoyov/jLevov irvOeaOai irepl rrj^ reXei'T^? diro-

XiTTcoVy dXX!7) Tov 'x^povov, ct)9 irpoeiprjrai. Spdrai

yap €Tt, vvv ofioca tw Tore irdOeL iroXXa kutu tt]v

rjfjiipav €/C€Lvr)V.

4 Ov 8el 8e Oavfid^cLv Tr]v d(Td(f>eLav, oirov îcq-TTLcovo^ *A(j)pi,/cavov fiera Selirvov otfcoi reXevTij-<7avT0<;, ovK ea')(€ ttLcftlv ovK €Xey')(pv rpoiro^;

T^9 reXevTT]^, dXX^ ol fiev avTOfidrco^; ovra (pvaec

voctcoStj Kafieiv Xeyovaiv, ol S* avrov v(f> eavrov

(papfidKOi^; diroOaveZvi ol 8e tou? ix^poif<; rrjv

dvaiTvorjv diroXajBelv avrov vvfcrcop irapeLarreaov-5 ra?. fcalroL '^KrjTrlcov exetro v6/cpbOr) (Tco/jLaro^ ovre Xelyjravov iadrjro^, dXV ol

fjL€v ecfcaôv ev r(p lepa> rov 'H<âtcrTou tou? fiov-

Xevra^; iTravacrrdvra^; avrw Kal Bia<f>Oelpavra<i,

V€Lp.avra<i ro acofia Kal fiipo^ eKaarov ivOe/xevov el<s

6 rov koXttov eêveyKelv erepoi B' otovrat fiijre ev

r& lepSi rov ^Hcpalcrrov firjre fiovcov rcov jSovXev-rodv irapovrodv yeveaOat rov dcpavLC/jLOv, dXXa

rvêlv fiev eô) irepl ro KuXovfievov alyb<i IX09

174

ROMULUS, XXVII. 2-6

he divided the territory acquired in war amonghis soldiers, and gave back their hostages to

the Veientes, without the consent or wish of the

patricians, he was thought to be insulting their

senate outright. Wherefore suspicion and calumnyfell upon that body when he disappeared unaccount-

ably a short time after. He disappeared on the

Nones of July, as they now call the month, then

Quintilis, leaving no certain account nor even any

generally accepted tradition of his death, aside from

the date of it, which I have just given. For on that

day many ceremonies are still performed which bear

a likeness to what then came to pass.Nor need we wonder at this uncertainty, since

although Scipio Africanus died at home after dinner,there is no convincing proof of the manner of his

end, but some say that he passed away naturally,

being of a sickly habit, some that he died of

poison administered by his own hand, and some that

his enemies broke into his house at night andsmothered him. And yet Scipio's dead body lay

exposed for all to see, and all who beheld it formedtherefrom some suspicion and conjecture of what had

happened to it ; whereas Romulus disappeared sud-

denly, and no portion of his body or fragment of his

clothing remained to be seen. But some conjecturedthat the senators, convened in the temple of Vulcan,fell upon him and slew him, then cut his bodyin pieces, put each a portion into the folds of his

robe, and so carried it away. Others think that it

was neither in the temple of Vulcan nor when the

senators alone were present that he disappeared,but that he was holding an assembly of the people

175

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

i/cfeXrja'Lav dyovra rov 'Vayfjivkov, d(f)vco Be Oav/aa"ara Kal KpetTTOva \6yov irepl rov dipa TrdOrj

yevecrOai Kal /jL6Ta/3o\d<i aTrtcTTOu?* rov fiev yaprjXlov TO

<^ft)9 eTTikLTTelVi vvrcra Be KaTaayelv, ov

iTpaecav, ovBer)<jv')(ôv,

dXXd ^povrd^ re Beivdf;

Kal TTvoa^ avefJLwv ^dXrjv iXavvovTcov Travra'^ôOei'7 exovaav iv Be rovro) rov fjuev ttoXvv 6)(Xov(TKeBaaOevra (j)vyecVf rov^ Be Bvvarov7j-

vaL /juer dXXrjXwv eirel 3' eXrjêv rj rapa^r) xal

TO 0W9 eêXa/JLyfre Kal rSiV ttoXXcov et? rauroirdXiv avvepxojjbevcov fT^r^cxi? rjv rov âaiXeco^Kal TToOo^f ovK eav tou9 BuvaTOv<i eêrdêiv ovBe

TToXvTrpay/jLoveiVt dXXd ri/jbdv irapaKeXeveadai, 35irdcTL Kal aeêcrOat Vco/nvXov, co? dvqpiraafjLevoveh Oeoijfi Kal Oeov ev/jievf] yevrjao/JLevov avroh ex

8 '^Tjarov /3acnXeco(i. tou9 /Jiev ovv ttoXXov^ rav-

Ta Treedo/J.evov<; Kal 'yâipovraf; diraXXdrreaOat

fier eXTTiBcov dyaOcjv irpoaKwovvraf;' elvai Be

Ttva'i OL TO Trpdyfia 7nKpco<} Kal Bv(T/i€V(a<; eêXey-

%oi^r6? irdparrov tol'9 TTaTpiKiov^ Kal BceâXXov,cb9 dêXrepa rov Brjfiov dvaireiOovra^, avrov^ Bk

rov l3a(TiX€0)<; avr6-)(êtpa<; 6vra<i.

XXVIII. Ovrco<; ovv ^dvBpa rwv irarpiKicov

yevet irpcorov, rjdei re BoKLjjLmraroVy avro) re

*V(o/jLvXa) iTLCTrov Kal crvvÔrj, rcjv dir"

AX07j<i

eiTOLKCoVy ^lovXiov UpoKXov, el<; dyopdv rrpoeX-Oovra ^ Kal royv dyicordrcov evopKov lepwv dyfrd-

fievov elrrelv iv irdatv 0)9 oBov avrw iBaBLôvrv

*Pa)fjLvXo<} ef ivavrta*; irpoaicov (fyaveir], KaX6<i fjbev

* ovras oZv Corags, following Stephanus and C, has ovtmsovv raparrofxfvwv (rchile such disorder prevailed).

îrpoeKQ6vTa MSS., Coraes, Sintenis^: vapeKddvra.

176

I ROMULUS, XXVII. 6-xxviii. i

outside the city near the so-called Goat's Marsh,^when suddenly strange and unaccountable disorders

with incredible changes filled the air; the light of

the sun failed, and night came down upon them,not with peace and quiet, but with awful peals of

thunder and furious blasts driving rain from every

quarter, during which the multitude dispersed and

fled, but the nobles gathered closely together ;and

when the storm had ceased, and the sun shone out,and the multitude, now gathered together againin the same place as before, anxiously sought for

their king, the nobles would not sutler them to

inquire into his disappearance nor busy themselves

about it, but exhorted them all to honour andrevere Romulus, since he had been caught up into

heaven, and was to be a benevolent god for theminstead of a good king. The multitude, accord-

ingly, believing this and rejoicing in it, went awayto worship him with good hopes of his favour ; butthere were some, it is said, who tested the matterin a bitter and hostile spirit, and confounded the

patricians with the accusation of imposing a silly tale

upon the people, and of being themselves themurderers of the king.XXVIII. At this pass, then, it is said that one of

the patricians, a man of noblest birth, and of themost reputable character, a trusted and intimate

friend also of Romulus himself, and one of thecolonists from Alba, Julius Proculus by name,'^ wentinto the forum and solemnly swore by the mostsacred emblems before all the people that, as he was

travelling on the road, he had seen Romulus coming

» Cf, Livy, i. 16, 1-4,« Cf. Livy, i. 16, 5-8.

177

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

6(j)0rjvat KOI fjiiya^;, co? ovirore irpocOev, oirXoi^ he

2 XafjLTTpoL^ Kol (f)\eyovcn fceKoa-fjLTj/uLevof;. avrb^; fievovv iKirXayeh 7rpo9 rrjv oyjriv

" *n ffaaiXev,^*

(fidvait"Tb hr) iraOcbv rj BcavorjOeU r)/iid<? fiev iv

aiTiaL'^ a8ifcoi<; kol irovqpal^, iraaav he ryv iroXiv

6p(j)avr]V ev /xvpLG) irivOet TTpoXekoiira^;"

eKelvov

S' diroH-pivacrOaOf"0eot9 eSoêv, oi IJpoKXe, rocrov-

rov y/jLd<; yeieafiai jxer dvOpcioTrcov ^povov, i/ceWev

ovra^} KoX TToXiv en dp^y koX ho^rj fxeylaTrj

KTLaavra<; avOa otKetv ovpavov, aXXd yalpei kol

(f)pdê 'Vo)/xaLoi(; ore acocppoavvrjv ijuer dvhpeia^d(JKovvTe<; eirl irXelarov dvOpcoTTLirjii dipiôvrac

Svvd/jLeco<i. iycb Se vfuu evpLevr}<; eaojJLai halfjLwv

3 Kj'pZyo9." ravra irtaTo, fxev elvai tol<; 'Pwyitatof?

eBoKCt Sict TOP rpoTTOv Tov XeyovTo<f xal Bia rbv

opKov ov fiTjv dXXd Koi Baifiovtov ri (tvv-

€(f>d'\fraordai irdOof; opLOLov evdovcnaafxw' fiTjBeva

yhp avrenretv, dXXd irdcrav virovoiav Koi Bia-

jSoXrjv d<pevTa<i evxâOai KvplvM koX OeoKXv-

Telv eKelvov.

4 ^ôiice pLev ovv ravra rotf; v(f)^ 'KXX'^vojv jrepCre Âpiareov rod Ylpo/covvrja-Lov zeal KXeo/jL7jBov<;

rod AarviraXaiew^ piv6oXoyovfjievoL<i.^

Kpiareavfiev yap ev rtvi Kvacêiw reXevrrjcrai cfyaai, Kal to

acopia pueriovrcov avrov roiv (J)lXcov d(j)av€<; ol^^-aOat' Xeyeiv Be rtva? ev9v<; ef diroBr]pi.ia t/oottg) xal

pLaviKov ovra, iroXXd Bpdv jSlaia, Kal reXo<; ev

^ iK€76eu ovTas MSS. , Coraes, Sintenis^, and Bekker ;

Sintenis^ tx-ansposes to follow ovpavov.

178

ROMULUS, XXVIII. 1-4

to meet him, fair and stately to the eye as never

before, and arrayed in bright and shining armour.

He himself, then, affrighted at the sight, had said :

^^ O King, what possessed thee, or what purpose hadst

thou, that thou hast left us patricians a prey to unjustand wicked accusations, and the whole city sorrowingwithout end at the loss of its father?

"Whereupon

Romulus had replied :" It was the pleasure of the

gods, O Proculus, from whom I came, that I should

be with mankind only a short time, and that after

founding a city destined to be the greatest on earth

for empire and glory, I should dwell again in heaven.

So farewell, and tell the Romans that if they practise

self-restraint, and add to it valour, they will reach

the utmost heights of human power. And I will be

your propitious deity, Quirinus." These things seemedto the Romans worthy of belief, from the character

of the man who related them, and from the oath

which he had taken ; moreover, some influence fromheaven also, akin to inspiration, laid hold upon their

emotions, for no man contradicted Proculus, but all

put aside suspicion and calumny and prayed to

Quirinus, and honoured him as a god.Now this is like the fables which the Greeks tell

about Aristeas of Proconnesus ^ and Cleomedes of

Astypaltia.2 For they say that Aristeas died in

a fuller's shop, and that when his friends came to

fetch away his body, it had vanished out of sight ;

and presently certain travellers returning fromabroad said they had met Aristeas journeying towardsCroton. Cleomedes also, who was of gigantic

strength and stature, of uncontrolled temper, andlike a mad man, is said to have done many deeds

1 Cf. Herodotus, iv. U f.^ cf. Pausanias, ix. 6 ff.

179-

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tivi SiâcrfcaXeUp TraiSwv rov virepeiôvra rr)v

6po(j)r)v Kiova Trardâvra rfj %€ip(- /cXdaai fiiaov

5 KOI TTjv crreyrjv KarajSakelv, diroXo/Jievoyv Be tcop

TTaiBctiV BicoKOfievov et? KLpcorov xaracpvyeLV

fi6yd\r)Vy Kol to TTco/jLa KaTaKkeiaavTa avvix^tv

€i/T09, wcrre diroairdaai fir} hvvaaOai TroWoiff;

ofiov jStaô/jLevov^' Karaa')î,aavTa<; Be rrjv kl/Sco-

Tov ovre ^covra rov dvOpwirov evpeiv ovre veKpov.

eicirXayevTa^ ovv dTrocTreVKai OeoTrpoirovi eh

A€\(j)ov<;, oU TTjv TlvOlav eliTelv'

"EiCTXCL'ô^ rjpcocov KXeofiijBij^;^

KaTviraXaiev^,

6 XeyeraL Be xal rov *A\/€/j,^vr)<i iKKO/jLLôfjb€V7]<i

veKpov dBrfkov yevkadaiy XiOov Be âvfjvai icei-

fievov eVt T^? K\iv7j<i. koI o\a)9 iroWd Tocavra

fxv6o\oyov(TL, irapd to et/co? eKOeidôvTe^ Tct

OvTjTCL T?}? (j)V(T€w<; dfia T0i9 OeioL^.^

KiToyvoiivaL [lev ovv iravTdiTacFL ttjv OeioTrjTa

Trj<; dpeTrj<i dvocnov KoiX dyevve<;, ovpavcp Be fii-

tyvveiv yrjv dBeXrepov. eaTeov ovv, exofievot,^ t^9

acrâXeta?, KaTO, UivBapov, co?

(TCt)fia fiev irdvTcov eireTai Oavdrw irepiaOevet,

^(oov B' CTL XeiireTai aiwvo'^ etBcoXov to ydpeaTL jJLovov

eK 6ecov,

7 rJK€t ydp eiceWev, exec S* dveia-iv, ov fierd aco-

fjuiT0<}, dXX^ idv OTi fidXicrra crco/xaro? diraX-

Xayrj kol BtaKpiOfj xal yevrjrai Kadapov iravrd-

iracTL KOL daapKov Kal dyvov, Avrj ydp '^vxh

i8o

ROMULUS, XXVIII. 4-7

of violence, and finally, in a school for boys, hesmote with his fist the pillar which supported the

roof, broke it in two, and brought down the house.The boys were killed, and Cleomedes, being pursued,took refuge in a great chest, closed the lid down,and held it so fast that many men with their united

strength could not pull it up ;but when they broke

the chest to pieces, the man was not to be found,alive or dead. In their dismay, then, they sent

messengers to consult the oracle at Delphi, and the

Pythian priestess gave them this answer :—

" Last of the heroes he, Cleomedes, Astypalaean.**

It is said also that the body of Alcmene disappeared,as they were carrying her forth for burial, and a

stone was seen lying on the bier instead. In short,

many such fables are told by writers who improbablyascribe divinity to the mortal features in humannature, as well as to the divine.

At any rate, to reject entirely the divinity of

human virtue, were impious and base ; but to mixheaven with earth is foolish. Let us therefore takethe safe course and grant, with Pindar,^ that

"Our bodies all must follow death's supremebehest.

But something living still survives^ an image of

life, for this alone

Comes from the gods.'*

Yes, it comes from them, and to them it returns, notwith its body, but only when it is most completelyseparated and set free from the body, and becomes

altogether pure, fleshless, and undefiled. For " a dry1Fragment 131, Bergk, Poet, Lyr. Gr. i* p. 427.

i8i

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

apicrrr)} ica6* 'HpaKXeLTOV, wairep aaTpairr] ve-

(f)ov<i BLaTTTafievr) rod acofiaro^;. r/ Be (Tco/jbarL

Trecpvpfiivr] Koi TrepLTrXecoî crwyLKxro?, olov avaOv-

fiiaai^; efji^pL6rj<; koX6fit)(X(t)S7]<;, hvaeâiTTO^ eari

8 KoX 8vo-avaK6/xt(TTo<;. ovSev ovv Bel ra aa}/u,ara

T(av aya0a)v (TvvavaTrijJLireiv irapa ^vcnv eh ov-

pavoVy aWa ra? apera^ koI Ta<; yjru')(â(;Travrd-

iracTLV oXeaOai Kara (jyvaiv koX Btfcrjv Oelav ix fiev

dvOpcoTTCov €i9 Tfpwa^;, i/c S' rjpcowi/ et? BaLfJLova<;,

Ik Be BaifJiovwvy av rekeov coairep iv TeXerf} Kadap-Oa)(TL /cat ocricoOcjcrLV airav dTrocpvyouaat to

6vr]T0V Kol iraOr^TiKov, ov v6/jLfp TroXeo)?, aXX*

dXrjOeia kuI Kara top elfcora Xoyov eh Oeoij*;

dvafêpeaOat, to KaXXiaTov kol fiaKapicoTaTovTeXo9 airoXaôvaa^.XXIX. Tr]v Be <y€VO/jL€vr)v eircavvfiiav to) 'Po)-

fivXo) TOP K.vpLVOv OL fiev ^KvvdXtov Trpoaayopeu-ovaiv ol Be ttoXLttjv,^ otl kol tov<; TroXxra?

KvpiTaf; Qivofjiaôv' oi Be Tr)v ai)(fi7]v rj to BopvTov<i iraXaLoij^ Kvpiv ovofidêLV, koX K.vpLTt.Bo<;

"Hyoa? dyaXfjua KoXeiv eir*al-)(^/jLrj<; IBpvfJbevov, iv Be

T7J 'Frjyia Bopv KadiBpviJLevov "Apea irpoaayop-eveiv, KOL BopaTL tov<; iv iroXefioi^ dpiaTevovTa^

yepaipeiv ox; ovv dprjlov Ttva tov 'PcopuvXov rj

2 alxP'V'^V^ Oeov ovofiacrOrjvai, K^vptvov. lepov fiev

ovv avTOV KaT€(TK€va(Tp,evov iv T(p X6(f)a) Ta> Ku-

pLva irpoaayopevofjievw Bl i/celvov, r) 8' rjpLepa y

fjueTTjXXaêv, 6')(Xov (^vyrj KaXelTai, Koi vfovai

JâTTparlvai Bta to Oveiv el<; to t?)? alyo<: l\o9 ire

^Kill yap ypvxh itplffTn Bekker : avr-q yhp rl^vxh ^vph tal

apl(TTH.2

ol Se iroxirriv, on Cora6s and Bekker, with two BodleianMSS. (B»b) : ol 5e on.

182

ROMULUS, xxviii. 7-xxix. 2

soul is best," according to Heracleitus,"^ and it flies

from the body as lightning flashes from a cloud. But

the soul which is contaminated with body, and sur-

feited with body, like a damp and heavy exhalation,

is slow to release itself and slow to rise towards its

source. We must not, therefore, violate nature by

sending the bodies of good men with their souls to

heaven, but imphcitly believe that their virtues and

their souls, in accordance with nature and divine

justice, ascend from men to heroes, from heroes to

demi-gods, and from demi-gods, after they have been

made pure and holy, as in the final rites of initiation,

and have freed themselves from mortality and sense,

to gods, not by civic law, but in very truth and

according to right reason, thus achieving the fairest

and most blessed consummation.

XXIX. To the surname of Quirinus bestowedon Romulus, some give the meaning of Mars,others that of Citizen, because the citizens werecalled Quirites ; but others say that the ancients

called the spear-head (or the whole spear)^'

quiris,"and gave the epithet Quiritis to the Juno whosestatue leans upon a spear, and the name Mars to

a spear consecrated in the Regia, and a spear as a

prize to those who performed great exploits in war ;

and that Romulus was therefore called Quirinusas a martial, or spear-wielding, god. However that

may be, a temple in his honour is built on the hill

called Quirinalis after him, and the day on whichhe vanished is called People's Flight, and Capra-tine Nones, because they go out of the city and

Fragment 74 (Bywater, HeracUti Ephesii reliquiae, p. 30).

183

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TToXeo)? KariovTa^* rrjv ykp alya Kciirpav ovofid-

iôvaiv, i^Lovreî Se tt/oo? rrjv Ovcriav ttoWcl tcop

irmxwpLcov ovo/ndrcov (pOeyyovraL fxera ôrj^, olov

yidpKov, AovfCiou, Vatov, /jH/jLovfiepoL rrjv rore

Tp07rr)v Kol dvciKKr^cTiV aXkr'jXwv fxera Beov^ Kol

Tapa')(^rj<;.

"EvLot fiivTOt TO pi[X7]fia rovro (iiacTL firj (fyvyrj^;,

a)OC €7re.fe«? elvac kol airovBrjîy et? alriav

Totavrrjv dva(f)epovT€<; top \6yov. iirel KeXrol

rr)v *Va)/xr]v KaTa\afi6vT€<; i^€Kpova6i](Tav viro

JâfilWov Kol Bl dadivetav y 7r6Xi<; ovKerc pa-Blco<; eavTrjv dvekdfJiâveVy icTTpdrevcrav iir avrijvTToWol T(av Aarlvwv, ap\ovra M^lov TIocttov-

fiiov €X0VT€<;. 0UT09 Be KadLcra<; rov cTTparov ov

irpoacD T?}? *Pco/ji7j<; eirefjure /ojpv/ca, /SovXecrOaL

Xeywv Tov<; AartVou? eKXtiTOvaav rfBrj Trjv ira-

XaiCLV OLKeLOTTjTa Kol avyyev6Lav iKâ)7rvprj(7at,

Kaival^ avdi^ dvaKpaOivrcov emyaixiatfi rcov

yevwv. av ovv ireix-^coa-L irap6evov^ re <Tu'xya<;

Koi yvvaiKOJV Ta? dvdvBpov^, elprjvrjv eaecrOai fcal

(piXiav auTot?, co? VTrrjpê 7rpo<; â/3ivuv<; irpo-

repov eV rcav ofioiayv. ravra aKovaavre^ oi r&)-

fialoL rov re iroXefxav e<ôôvvro koX tt^v irapdBocriv Twv yvvaiKMV ovBev alxp-aXaxriaf; iineLKe-

arepov ex^tv €i>6/jllôv. dirorovaL S' avrol^ depd-irauva ^lXwti^, co? S' evtot Xiyovai,, TovroXa KaXov-

fiivrj, (j-vveôvXevae fujBerepa Troielv, dXXa xpV^^'fievov; BoXo) Biacpvyecu d/xa rov iroXe/jLOV Kal rrjv

iôfjLrjpevoTLV. rjv 8' o BoXc^ avrrjv re ttjv <îX(o-

rlBa Kal avv avrfj OepaTraLviBa^; evirpeTrel^

KoaiJirjaavTa^ ft>9 eXevOepa^; dTToarelXai tt/oo? tov<;

7roXefuov<s' elra vvKTwp rrjv ^cXeorlBa irvpaov

184

ROMULUS, XXIX. 2-5

sacrifice at the Goat's Marsh ; and "capra

"is their

word for she-goat. And as they go forth to the

sacrifice, they shout out many local names, like

Marcus, Lucius, and Caius, in imitation of the wayin which, on the day when Romulus disappeared,

they called upon one another in fear and confusion.

Some, however, say that this imitation is not oneof flight, but of haste and eagerness, and explain it

as referring to the following occasion. After theGauls had captured Rome and been driven out byCamillus, and when the city was still too weak to

recover itself readily, an expedition was made againstit by many of the Latins, under the command of

Livius Postumius. This general stationed his armynot far from Rome, and sent a herald with the

message that the Latins wished to renew their

ancient relationship and affinity with the Romans, byfresh intermarriages between the two peoples. If,

therefore, the Romans would send them a goodlynumber of virgins and their widows, they shouldhave peace and friendship, such as they had formerlymade with the Sabines on the like terms. On hear-

ing this message, the Romans hesitated between

going to war, which they feared, and the surrenderof their women, which they thought no more desir-

able than to have them captured. But while theywere in this perplexity, a serving-maid called Philotis

(or, as some say, Tutola) advised them to do neither,but by the use of a stratagem to escape alike thewar and the giving of hostages. Now the stratagemwas this, that they should send to the enemy Philotis

herself, and with her other comely serving-maids

arrayed like free-born women ; then in the nightPhilotis was to display a signal-fire, at which the

185

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

apai, Toix; Be *V(t)fiaiov<; iireXOelv fiera rwv ottXcov

/cat %/3/ycrao"â^ Kotfi(D/jL€voi<; TOLfi TToXefMLOL^. ravraS* ehpcLTO TTeiaOevTcov toov Karlvcov koI tov irvpaov

avea')(ev rj îXcorl'; e/c tlvo<^ ipiveov, 7r€pi(T)(ôucra

TrpoKaXvfMfiaai koX TrapaTrerdcrpLacnv oinadev,a>aT€ TOLî TToXe/jLLoi^; aoparov elvai to ^w?, rot? Be

6 VwiJbaioi<; /cardSrjXov. &)9 ovv iirelBov, evOii^ ^^V^-aav iireijojuievot koX Sia rrjv eireiîv aXXr]Xov<; irepl

ra? TTU/Va? dvaKaXovvT6<; iroXXaKi^. i/jL7r6(T6pTe<i 8e

TOt? iroXeixiOL^ diTpoaBoKrjT(o<^ kol KparrjcravTeî,iiTLViKLOv dyoua-L rrjv eoprrjv. kul KaTrparlvaL

fxev at VMvat KaXovvrai Bid tov ipiveov Kairpi'

(^LKOv VTTo 'Pco/xaicov ovojJLaôfJievoVy eo-TLwai Be

rdf; yvvat/ca<; e^(o, crvKrjî KXdBot^ aKLatofjuevaf;.

ai Be Oepa'TTaiviBe^; d<yeipovaL TrepiiovaaL koI 37

Tratôvaiv, elra irXr^yal^ koI fioXat? kuI rore toI<; 'Pw/âtot?

Trapayevofjuevai, Kal avvaycovccrd/uLevai fia-)(0/jLepoi<;.

7 TaOr* ovv ^ ttoXXoI TrpoaUvrai rcov (Tvyypa-

<j>€(ov,dXXd Kal to fieO* r/fiepav ')(^prja6aL rfj

dvaKXrjaei rcov ovo/xdrcov kol to tt/jo? to eXo? to

tt)? aLyo<i ct)9 eirl Ovaiav^ âBcôvraf; eoLfce ro)

iTpOTepcp Xoya) TrpoaTiOeadai jxaXXov, eljuurf vrj

{^la rrj<; avrrjf; r)/jL€pa^ ev ^/ooiôi? €T€pot.<; dfi<f)6-

repa rd irdOr) avveTV)(e yeveaOai. Xeyerai Be

'P(OfjLvXo<; reaaapa fxev err) xal irevTrJKovra ye-

yovco^, oyBoov Be âo-cXevcov eicelvo fcal Tpca-Koarov i^ dvOpcoTrwv d(f)avi<T0fjvai.

^ oZv with Cobet : ov {hy fexc).® Bvalav with Coraea (as in xxix. 2) : QiXarTav (sea).

1 86

ROMULUS, XXIX. 5-7

Romans were to come in arms and deal with their

enemies while asleep. This was done, with the

approval of the Latins, and Philotis displayed the

signal-fire from a certain wild fig-tree, screening it

behind with coverlets and draperies, so that its lightwas unseen by the enemy, but visible to the Romans.

When, accordingly, they beheld it, they sallied forth

at once in great haste, and because of their haste

calling upon one another many times at the gates.

They fell upon their enemies when they least

expected it and mastered them, and now celebrate

this festival in memory of their victory. And theNones on which it falls are called Capratine fromthe wild fig-tree, the Roman name for which is"caprificus," and they feast the women outside the

city in booths made of fig-tree boughs. Then the

serving-maids run about in companies and play, after

which they strike and throw stones at one another,in token that on that earlier day they assisted theRomans and shared with them in their battle.^

These details are accepted by many historians,but their calling out one another's names in the

day time, and their marching out to the Goat'sMarsh as for sacrifice, seem to be more consonantwith the former story, unless, to be sure, bothactions happened to take place on the same day in

different periods. Romulus is said to have been

fifty-four years of age, and in the thirty-eighth yearof his reign when he disappeared from amongmen.

* Cf. Gamillus, xxxiii.

.8?

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

©H2EnS KAI PQMYAOY rSYrKPISlS

I. *Â fiev oZv dîa fivrjiJir]<^ TrvOeaOai irepi

*P(ojjLv\ov KOI ©Thereto? a-vfjL0efir]K€if rjfilv, ravr

earl, âiverav he Trpcorov 6 fiev ex Trpoaipeaecof^,

ovB€Vo<; avayKaôvro^, aXhJ eôv aSeoi? ev Tpot-

^rjvi /SaatXevetv Siahe^dfjuevov ap^V^ ovk dBoôv,

auTo? d<f)*eavTov /jieydXcov ope'xOel^' 6 he Bov-

Xeta? ^vy^ 7rapovar)<; koI Tifia)pla<; eirccpepo/jLevrjf;,

eKeivo TO Tov JI\dT(ovo<^, cLTe^^vo}^ vtto Seov? dv-

BpeLo<i yevo/mevo^, Koi (f)60(p tov to, e<7%aTa iraOeiv

iirl TO Bpdv fieydXa Bl dvdyK7]v irapayevo-2 [xevo^. eireiTa tovtov fiev epyov earl to /jueyiaTOv

dveXetv eva tov ^'AX/St;? Tvpavvov, i/ceivov Be

irdpepya koX 7rpodya)V€<i rjaav 6 ^Keipoiv, 6 '^lvl<;,

6 IlpOKpov(TTr)<;, 'K.opvvriT7]<;, oif<; dvaipcov Koi

fcoXd^cov dirrjXaTTe ttjv 'EWaSa Betvwv Tvpdvvcov

TTplv 0(7Tt9 €(7tI yivcoaKeiv Tov<i VTT* avTov acoô-

fievov^. Kol TG) fxev iraprjv diTpaypi.ova)'; KOfil-

êaOai Bid OakaTTT}^ dBiKovpevm firjBev viro rail/

Xrja-TCJV, 'V(op,v\(p S* ov TTaprjv p.7) irpdyfiaTa3 e^îv Â/jlovXlov fwz^ro?. fiiya Be tovtov TexpLi',-

pLOV 6 fiev yap ovBev avTo<i dBiKov/jLfvo<i cjp/jirjaev

virep aXXcov eVt tou? rrovrjpovfi, ol S' 6<tov avTol

fCaK(0(; OVK eiraa'ôv vtto tov Tvpdvvov, Treptecopcov

dBiKovvTa irdpTWi* xal fi7)v el fiiya to TpQ)OP]vat

i88

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, i. 1-3

COMPARISON OF THESEUS AND ROMULUS

L Such, then, are the memorable things about

Romulus and Theseus which I have been able to

learn. And it appears, first of all, that Theseus, of

his own choice, when no one compelled him, but

when it was possible for him to reign without fear at

Troezen as heir to no inglorious realm, of his ownaccord reached out after great achievements ;

whereas Romulus, to escape present servitude and

impending punishment, became simply"courageous

out of fear," as Plato phrases it,^ and through the

dread of extreme penalties proceeded to perform

great exploits under compulsion. In the second

place, the chief deed of Romulus was the slaying of

a single tyrant of Alba ; whereas for mere by-adven-tures and preliminary struggles Theseus had Sciron,

Sinis, Procrustes, and Corynetes, by slaying and

chastising whom he freed Greece from dreadful

tyrants before those who were saved by him knewwho he was. Theseus might have travelled to

Athens by sea without any trouble, and sufferingno outrage at the hands of those robbers

; whereasRomulus could not be without trouble while Amuliuslived. And there is strong proof of this ; for

Theseus, although he had suffered no wrong at

their hands himself, sallied out in behalf of others

against those miscreants; while Romulus and Remus,as long as they themselves were not harmed bythe tyrant, suffered him to wrong everybody else.

And surely, if it was a great thing for Romulus1Fhaedo, p. 68 d.

189

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

liaypyuevov Sa/StVoi? koX avekelv AKpwva kol

TToXXcov fJ'cixV fcparâai TroXefiicov, tovtoi^ fiev

ecrri rot? €pyoL<; Kevravpofia')(iav koi ra irpo^

4 'AfjLa^6va<; irapaâXelv o S* iroX/jLTjae^ ^rjaeix;

irepl Tov KprjTiKov Sacrpôv, elre tlvX OrjpiO) fiopdv,

ehe 'n-p6a-(j)ay/jLa rot? ÂvBpoyeco rdôi^y €lO\ o

Kovôrarov iari rcov Xeyopîvcov, Xarpeveiv Trap

avSpdaiv v/3pLaTa2<; koi Bva/jLevicnv d/cXerj \a-

rpeiav KaX dripôv eV^SoL'? eavrov, iKOvaicoî pêrd

irap6ev(ov TrXevaa^ fcal walScov vecov, ov/c dv etiroi

Tt9 r)XLK7}<; iarl T0X//.779 rj p.eyaXo(j>pocrvvr)<; rj Bl-

KaioavvT]^ irepl to kolvovrj irodov Bo^rjfi koL

5 dperrjf;, war epioiye âiveraL p,Tj Kafca)<; opi-

êaOaL tou? (j)iXoa6(f>ov<; tov epwTa Oecov vinj-

pecTiav 7r/309 eTripêXeLav kol acorrjpiav vicov. 6

yap Âpi,dSvr)<; epw^ Trai/ro? puaXkov eoiKev epyovdeov KaX P'VX^^^ yeveaOat acoT7]pia<i eve/ca tov

dvBp6<;. KaX ovK dîov alridcrOai ttjv ipaaOeXaav,dXXd Oavp^dêiv el p,r} irdvTe^ ovtco KaX irdaai

BteTedifâav' el 5' eKeivr) puovr} tovt eiradev, clko-

Tft)9 €70)76 (f)aLr)v dv avrrjv d^cepaaTOv 6ea> yeyo-

vivai, (pLXoKaXov KaX <pL\dya6ov xaX tcov dpLcrTcov

ipcoTifcrjv oixrav,' "

'\ ''.

II. Âp.(f)0T€p0)V TOLVVV Trj <l)V€r€l TToXlTLKCOV

yeyovoTODVy ovBeT€po<; BiecjyvXaê tov âaiXiKov

TpOTTOv eêaT-q Be KaX pêre/SaXe p^raôXrjv 6

fiev Br}p,OTLKr}v, 6 Be TvpavvLKrjv, TavTOv air

^ft y ir6\iJ.T]ar€ Coraes and Sintenis would begin the

second chapter here.

190

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, i. 3-11. i

to be wounded in a battle with the Sabines, andto slay Acron, and to conquer many enemies in

battle, with these exploits we may compare, on

the part of Theseus, his battle with the Centaurs

and his campaign against the Amazons ; but as

for the daring which he showed about the Cretan

tribute, whether that was food for some mon-

ster, or a sacrifice on the tomb of Androgeos, or

whether—and this is the mildest form of the story—

he offered himself for inglorious and dishonourable

servitude among insolent and cruel men when hevolunteered to sail away with maidens and youngboys, words cannot depict such courage, magna-nimity, righteous zeal for the common good, or

yearning for glory and virtue. It is therefore myopinion that the philosophers^ give an excellent

definition of love when they call it" a ministration of

the gods for the care and preservation of the young."For Ariadne's love seems to have been, more than

an3rthing else, a god's work, and a device wherebyTheseus should be saved. And we should not blameher for loving him, but rather wonder that all menand women were not thus affected towards him ;

and if she alone felt this passion, I should say, for

my part, that she was properly worthy of a god's

love, since she was fond of virtue, fond of goodness,and a lover of the highest qualities in man.

II. Although Theseus and Romulus were both

statesmen by nature, neither maintained to the end

the true character of a king, but both deviated from it

and underwent a change, the former in the direction

of democracy, the latter in the direction of tyranny,

making thus the same mistake through opposite

*Poleraon, as cited in Morals, p. 780 d.

191

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ivavrlcov iraOoiv dfjLapr6vT€<;. Sel yap tov dp-

yovra act)^€LV irpwrov avrrfv rrjv ap-)(riv' acoêrai

8* ov^ r]TTOV a'K€-)(opLevT] TOV fit) 'Trpo(TiJKOvro<i rj

7r€pi€X0P'6V7j TOV ITpo(TrjKOVTo<;, 6 8' ivSiBov^ rj

eiTLTeivwv ov fiivei, âaiXevî ovBe ap-^^wv, aX)C rj

B7]fj,aycoyo<; rj BeaTrorr]^ yLyv6/jL6Vo<;, ifiTroiel to

fiLaelv rj KaTacppovetv rot^; apxo/J>€voi<;. ov firjv

aXV eKelvo fiev iiTLeLKela^ BoKel koI ^tXavOpcD-TTia<i elvat, tovto Se ^Lkavrla^ dfidprTj/ia kul

XcO^^TTorr^TO^,

III. Et Be Bel Kol rd BvaTvxplOevTa fir] iravrd-

iraai iroielcrOai, Baufiovof;, aXV i^di/cdf; koI iraOrj- 38

TCfcdî ^rjretv ev at'TOt? Bi,a(f)0pd<;, Ovpiov pev d\o-

ylarov koI rdxoî expvcrrjf; dôvXov opyrjf; p^rjTe

Tt9 eKelvov ev roi? vrpo? tov dBeXôv diroXveTOi

p,r}Te TovTOV ev toI<^ irpo^ tov vlov17

Be KLvrjcraaaTOV Ovpov dpxv pdWov irapaLTelTai tov vtto

pêiôvo^ aLTLa^ oicnrep vtto 77X977^9 pâXeTrwre/oa?

dvaTpairevTa. ^V(Dpv\(p pev yap etc fiovXrj<i koI

<TKe^\re(o Biwrreêv-

yaariv, epw^ real ^rjXoTVTria fcal BtaôXal yvvai-fco^ €a-(f>r)Xav. Be puelôv iaTtv, 6 pev 'VcopvXov

6vp,o<; eh epyov eêireae koI irpdîv ovk evTvê^

eôvaav TeXo<;, r) Be Srjae(i)<; opyrj pêXP^ XoyouKal /3Xaa<l>r}pLaf; Kal KUTapaf; 7rpe(T/3vTifcr]<i

TrpoijXOe, Td 8' dXXa (patveTUL Trj tv^JJ XPV^^'aOai TO pueLpaKiov. wo-tc TavTa<i pêv dv Tt5 aTTO-

BoLrj Tft) Srjael Ta5 yjnjcjyovim

192

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, ii. i-iii. 2

affections. For the ruler must preserve first of all

the realm itself, and this is preserved no less byrefraining from what is unbecoming than by cleavingto what is becoming. But he who remits or extendshis authority is no longer a king or a ruler

; hebecomes either a demagogue or a despot, and im-

plants hatred or contempt in the hearts of his

subjects. However, the first error seems to arise

from kindliness and humanity ; the second fromselfishness and severity.

HI. Again, if the misfortunes of men are not to

be attributed altogether to fortune, but to the dif-

ferent habits and passions which will be found

underlying them, then no one shall acquit Romulusof unreasoning anger or hasty and senseless wrathin dealing with his brother, nor Theseus in dealingwith his son, although the cause which stirred his

anger leads us to be more lenient towards the onewho was overthrown by a stronger provocation, as bya heavier blow. For since the difference betweenRomulus and his brother arose from a deliberate

investigation of the common welfare, there couldhave been no good reason for his flying into sucha passion ; while Theseus was impelled to wronghis son by love, jealousy, and a woman's slanders,the overmastering power of which very few menhave escaped. And what is of greater weight, the

anger of Romulus vented itself in action and a deedof most unfortunate issue ; whereas the wrath ofTheseus got no farther than words of abuse and anold man's curse, and the restof the youth's calamities

seem to have been due to fortune. On these counts,

therefore, one would give his vote of preference to

Theseus.

193

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

IV. Êfcelvo) Be irpcorov fiev V7rdp')(€i fxeya to

jiiKpordraî Xa/Selv cLp')(^cif;iirl rd Trpdyiiara.

SovXoi yap Br) Koi (TV(f>opP(x)v TratSe^ ovo/uaô-

fievoL, TTplv iXevOepoi yeveaOai, irdyra^ okiyovBelv rjXevOepwaav Aajivov^, evX

'^^^povcp twvKaWiaTcov ovo/xdrcov dfia Tfôz^re?, ôvel^

iÔpcbv Koi aoyrrjpe^ ol/celcov koI âat\€i<i iOvwv

xal OLKiaral iroXecov, ov /neroi/cto-TaL, KaOdirep

Tjv 6 @7}(Tev<;, CK TToXXcov avvTiOelî xal avvoiKO-

So/JLCOV ev olK7)TrjpLOVy dvaipwv he 7roXXd<; 7r6Xei<;

2 iTTcovvfMov^ fiaaiXewv fcal rjpcoayv iraXaioiV. 'Pco-

fivXo<; Be ravra puev varepov eBpa, rov<; woXe-

fjLiov<; dvayKd^cjv rd ol/ceca KaraâXXovraî koI

d(âviôvra<; roX<; vevLKrjxoai irpoaveiiecrOai,' to

Be irpcjTov ov fjueTarcOeU ovB* av^cov ttjv virdp-

'Xôvcrav, dXXd ttolcov ef oi)% vnap^ôvrcov koX

KTC£>ijbevo<; eavTa>')(^copav ojjlov, TrarplBa, âo-iXeiav,

ykv7)i ydfxov^, olK€i6Tr)Ta<;, dvrjpei p.ev ovBiva ovBe

dircoXXvev, evepyerei Be rov<i i^ doi/cwv zeal dve-

artcov BrjfjLOV eOeXovra^; elvai koX iroXijaf;, Xrj-

o-Ta? Be Kol Kafcovpyovi ovk direicTeLvev, dXX!

eOvTj irpoai'jydyeTO TroXeficp koX iroXei^ Karearpe-

ylraro koI /3ao-LXeL<; e0ptdp./3ev(T€ koI rjyepLova^;.

V. K.al TO fiev ^VdijjLOV irdOo^ dfKpiar^rjrov-

fievov e%€i Tov avroxei^pct', /cal to irXelarov el<;

erepov^; t?;? alria^ rpeTroucrr T7)v Be fjLTjrepa

BioXXup.ev7]v eacoae 'jrepiâvw<^, koi tov irdTriTov

uKXeS)^ BovXeuovTa koi dripLcos eU tov Aivetov

dpovov eKaOicre. Koi rroXXd puev erccbv evepye-2 TTjaev, e^Xai/re Be avTOV ovBe ukcov, ttjv Be

194

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, iv. i-v. 2

IV. But Romulus has, in the first place, this great

superiority, that he rose to eminence from thesmallest beginnings. For he and his brother were

reputed to be slaves and sons of swineherds, and yet

they not only made themselves free, but freed first

almost all the Latins, enjoying at one and the sametime such most honourable titles as slayers of their

foes, saviours of their kindred and friends, kings of

races and peoples, founders of cities; not trans-

planters, as Theseus was, who put together andconsolidated one dwelling-place out of many, butdemolished many cities bearing the names of ancient

kings and heroes. Romulus, it is true, did this later,

compelling his enemies to tear down and obliterate

their dwellings and enrol themselves among their

conquerors ; but at first, not by removing or enlarg-

ing a city which already existed, but by creatingone from nothing, and by acquiring for himself at

once territory, country, kingdom, clans, marriagesand relationships, he ruined no one and killed no one,but was a benefactor of men without homes and

hearths, who wished instead to be a people andcitizens of a common city. Robbers and miscreants,it is true, he did not slay, but he subdued nations in

war, laid cities low, and triumphed over kings andcommanders.

V. Besides, there is dispute as to who actuallyslew Remus, and most of the blame for the deed is

put upon others than Romulus ; but Romulus did

unquestionably save his mother from destruction,and he set his grandfather, who was living in ingloriousand dishonourable subjection, upon the throne ofAeneas. Moreover, he did him many favours of his

own accord, and did him no harm, not even inadver-

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Srja-eco^ XrjOrjv koX afieXeiav t^9 irepl to Icttlov

ivTo\rj^ fioXiî av olfiai fiaKpa rivc irapahrrjaei

KOI iv pa0vfjLOL<; htKaaral^ alrlav uTrocpvyeiP

TTarpoiCTOvia^' o Sr) koI avviBayv rt? *ATTt«:o9 avijp

ew? iray')(a\e'Tr6v iart ôvXopîvoi^ airoXoyeio-Oaif

TrXdrrei, top Alyea t^9 V€0!)<; irpoa-êpopevr^'^ viro

cr7rovBr]<i avaTpeôvTa nrpoî ttjv ukpottoXcv Oea^

€V€/ca KaX a(j)aXX6p,€vov KaTairecrelv, ayairep oira-

B(DV €prjp,oVf rj TTJV iirl OdXaTTav oBov airevBovTi,

fir) 7rapova7)<; Tivo<; OepaTreia^;.

VT. Kal iir]v to, irepl ra? apiraya^ t(ov yv-vaiKMV rj/jLapTTjpeva Srjcrel pbev €v<T)(rjfiovo(i ivSed

TTponder 6co<; yiyove. irpcoTov fiev oti 7roXXdKi<i'

rjpTTa(T6 yap ÂpidBvrjv /cal Âvtiotttjv kol Âvaô)

T7}v Tpot^t]viav, iirl irdaai^ Be tî; 'KXevrjv,

7rapr)Kp.aK0}<i ovk aKfidôvaav, dXXa vrjirlav koI

d(opov avTO? &pav e^(ov '^Brj ydfjucov TTeiravadai

Kol vopip^cov eireLTa Bta T'qv auTLav ov yapd^tcoTepau ye TraiBoTroiol tcov ÂO^vrja-iv 'EyO€-

')(6r]iB(DV KaX KeKpoTTiBcov ai Tpoi^rjviciiv KaX

AaKcovcov KaX *Apu^6pcov dveyyvot, OvyaTepe^2 rjcrav, dXXa TavTa puev viroyjriav eêt tt/Oo?

v^piv KaX KaB* rjBovTjv Treirpa'xdai. 'Pw/iuXo?he TTp&TOV p>ev OKTaKoatcov oXiyov dpiOpCo B60vaa<^ 39

dp7rdo-a^, ov irdaa^, dXXd pt,iav, cw? âaiv,

ÊpacXiav eXaê, Tat; S' dXXa<i Btevetp^ Tot9

dyaOoL<;^ tcov ttoXltcov eireLTa Trj fiera ravra

Tiafj teal dyaTTijaei KaX BLKaioavvr) Ty irepX ra?

yvvalKa<i dirtioeiê ttjv îav eKelmjv KaX ttjv

âya6o7s MSS. au4 edd. : ayd/iou {unmarried),

.196

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, v. 2-vi. 2

tently. Theseus, on the contrary, for his forgetfulnessand neglect of the command about the sail, can

hardly, 1 think, escape the charj^e of parricide, be

the plea of his advocate ever so long and his judgesever so lenient. Indeed, a certain Attic writer,

conscious that would-be defenders of Theseus have

a difficult task, feigns that Aegeus, on the approachof the ship, ran up to the acropolis in his eager-ness to catch sight of her, and stumbled and fell

down the cliff; as though he were without a re-

tinue, or was hurrying down to the sea without anyservants.

VI. Furthermore, the transgressions of Theseus in

his rapes of women admit of no plausible excuse.

This is true, first, because there were so many ; for he

carried off Ariadne, Antiope, Anaxo of Troezen, andat last Helen, when he was pjist his prime and she

had not reached her prime, but was an unripe child,

while he was already of an age too great for evenlawful wedlock. It is true, secondly, because of the

reason for them ; for the daughters of Troezenians

and Laconians and Amazons were not betrothed to

him, and were no worthier, surely, to be the mothersof his children than the daughters of Erechtheusand Cecrops at Athens. But one may suspect that

these deeds of his were done in lustful wantonness.

Romulus, on the other hand, in the first place,

although he carried off nearly eight hundred women,took them not all to wife, but only one, as they say,

Hersilia, and distributed the rest among the best of

the citizens. And in the second place, by the

subsequent honour, love, and righteous treatment

given to these women, he made it clear that his

197

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aBiKiav KoXXicrrov epyov koX TroXiri/ccoraTOV eU3 KoLvcoviav yevojxevrjv. ovro) (Tvvefiiêv aW'qkoi<iKoX crvveirrjê to, 'yevT], koI irapea'xe tttjjtjv ttj^

et9 avdL<; 6vvoia<; koI Bvvd/jL€CD<; to?? irpdy/jbaa-iv.

alSov<; Be koI (faXia^ koI êâLorrjro^y fjv elpyd-

caro irepl tov^; ydfjLov<;, 6 %/30i^09 ia-rl fidprv;.

ev yap ereai, rpidKovra koI Si,a/coaioiC coairep iv^FiWrjacv ol acpoSpa

irepLTToi Tov irpcorov exovaiv elirelv irarpOKTovov

rj /jL7]Tpo<l)6vov, ovTO) 'Vcofxalot 7raz^T€9 taaaiv on,

KapîXio<; îropioî direTrifJLylraTO yvvaiKa irpca-

4 T09, aTraiBiav alTiaadfjL€vo<i. t& Be roaovTM

')(^p6v(p avpLpâpTVpel Kal ra epya. koI yap dp')(fi<;

eKOivdyvrjaav ol ffaorLXel<;, Kal iroXneiaî to, yevrj

Bia T7)v eiriyapLiav eKeivr]v' diro Be tmv Srja-ia)^ yd-

ficov ^K6r)vaioLLXiKov fiev ovBev ovBe kolvcovlkov

vTrrjpê 7r/>09 ovBeva oû/jLôXacov, ex^pai' Be /col

TToXepLOL /cal ôvoi ttoXltcjv Kal TeXo9 ÂûBva^;

diroXeaai Kal [jloXi^ vir* oXktov twv iroXefiiwv,

TrpoaKvvijcravra^ Kal Oeov^; dvecTrovra^, jjutjira-

5 Oelv a T^(W69 eiraOov BC ÂXeâvBpov. r) p,evT0L

fifjTTjp 7) @r)(7e(o<i ovK iKivBvvevaeVi dXX^ eiraOe

Th T7J<; 'RKdjSrjf;, iyKaraXcirovTo^; Kal irpoejiivov

TOV iraiBo^, etye fir) ireirXaaraL ra t?}9 al)(/iJLa-

Xwaia^, (09 eBei ye Kal tovto yjrevBo<s elvai xal

ra irXejucTTa tmv dXXcov, iirel Kal ra irepl tov

Oetov fivOoXoyovjieva iroXXrjv iroiel Bcacjiopdv.

198

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, vi. 2-5

deed of violence and injustice was a most honourable

achievement, and one most adapted to promotepolitical partnership. In this way he intermixedand blended the two peoples with one another, and

supplied his state with a flowing fountain of strengthand good will for the time to come. And to the

modesty, tenderness, and stability which he impartedto the marriage relation, time is witness. Forin two hundred and thirty years no man venturedto leave his wife, nor any woman her husband ; but,

just as the very curious among the Greeks can namethe first parricide or matricide, so the Romans all

know that Spurius Carvilius was the first to put awayhis wife, accusing her of barrenness. And theimmediate results of his act, as well as the longlapse of time, witness in favour of Romulus. Forthe two kings shared the government in common,and the two peoples the rights and duties of citizen-

ship, because of that intermarriage ; whereas fromthe marriages of Theseus the Athenians got no newfriends at all, nor even any community of enter-

prise whatsoever, but enmities, wars, slaughters of

citizens, and at last the loss of Aphidnae, and an

escape from the fate which Troy suffered by reasonof Alexander, only because their enemies took

compassion on them when they called upon them

worshipfully as gods. However, the mother of

Theseus was not only in danger, but actually suf-

fered the fate of Hecuba when she was desertedand abandoned by her son, unless, indeed, the tale

of her captivity is fictitious, and it may well be

false, as well as most of the other stories. For

example, the tales told of divine intervention in

their lives are in great contrast; for Romulus was

199

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

''Pa)/JLv\(p fjiev yap rj (rcorrjpia fxera ttoWtj^ virrjp^e6ea)v evfieveia^;, 6 S* Alyel SoOel^ ')(prj(T/jL6<i,

aire-

')(eadaL ywatKo^ eVt ^evr]^, eoLKev airocjiaiveiv

irapa jvco/jltjv Oecav yeyovkvai Ti]V S}]aico<;rifcvcoaiv.

200

THESEUS AND ROMULUS, vi. 5

preserved by the signal favour of the gods, while

the oracle given to Aegeus, forbidding him to ap-

proach a woman while in a foreign land, seems to

indicate that the birth of Theseus was not agreeableto the will of the gods.

201

tU.Tv,1Sk^-

LYCURGUS

AYKOYPrOS

T. JJepl AvKOvpyov rod tôfioOirov fcaOoXov fiev

ovBev earrtv elirelv ava/nîaîjrTjrov, ov ye Koi

yevo^ Kol dTroSrjfjLLa koI TcXevrrj fcal 7rpo<; diraortv

r) irepl rov<; v6fiov<; avrov koi ttjv TToXiTeiav

Trpayfiareia 8t,acf)6pov<; ea^V^^^ IcrTopia^, rjKLCTTa

Be ol XP^ôi KaO^ 0U9 yeyovev o avr)p oixoXoyovvrai.

ol fiev yap ^l<j)iTiX6(Toô^y TeKjuLijpiov

irpoacpeptov tov ÔXvpuTTiaai Slo-kov iv c5 Touvofia

2 TOV Avfeovpyov SiaacoêTac KaTayeypa/jL/nevov ol

Bk raU BiaBoxalf; tcov iv '^TrdpTTj êâcTtXevKo-

Tcov dvaXeyo/jLevoL tov y^pbvov, (acrirep ^KpaTO(Tdevr)<i

Kal^

A7roXX6Bo)po<;, ovk oXlyoKi erea-i irpeo-^vTepov

d'TTO(f)aivov(TL T% 7rp(t)T7)<; ÔXvfjLTndBo<;. Tifxaio^

Be VTTOvoel, Bvelv iv "^TrdpTrj yeyovoTwv AvKOvpycovov KaTCL TOV avTov

')(^p6voVy T(p eTepo) Td<; d/juftolv

TTpdêi^ Bia Trjv Boâv dvaKelaOai' Kal tov ye

TTpeer^VTepov ov iroppw tcov 'Op,rjpov yeyovevav

Xpovcav, evLOL Be Kal KaT oyjriv ivTVX^lv 'O^yjptp,

204

iiii/;-!

LYCURGUS

I. Concerning Lycurgus the lawgiver, in general,

nothing can be said which is not disputed, since

indeed there are different accounts of his birth, his

travels, his death, and above all, of his work as law-

maker and statesman ; and there is least agreementamong historians as to the times in which the manlived. Some say that he flourished at the same time

with Iphitus, and in concert with him established

the Olympic truce. Among these is Aristotle the

philosopher, and he alleges as proof the discus at

Olympia on which an inscription preserves the nameof Lycurgus.i But those who compute the time bythe successions of kings at Sparta, like Eratosthenes

and Apollodorus, prove that Lycurgus was many yearsearlier than the first Olympiad.^ And Timaeus con-

jectures that there were two Lycurgus at Sparta,at different times, and that to one of them the

achievements of both were ascribed, owing to his

greater fame ; he thinks also that the elder of the

two lived not far from the times of Homer, and someassert that he actually met Homer face to face.

* As joining with Iphitus in founding, or reviving, the

Olympic games, in 776 B.C., the date assigned to the first

recorded victory. Cf. Pausanias, v. 4, 5 f . ; 20, 1. A stayof hostilities was observed all over Greece during the festival.

» 776-73 B.O.

VOL. I.H 205

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 SiSeoai Bh Kol B(evo(pMV virovotav apâiorrjTo^ ev 40

oh Tov avBpa \eyei, yeyov6vat> Kara tou? 'H/?a-

K\6i8a<!, yivei fiev yap ^HpaKXetBai Bi]7rov6€v

rjaav kol ol vedoraroL rcov ev Xirdprrj âaCkecdv, 6

Be 601K6 j3ov\o/jLev(p Tov<; tt/ocotou? iKelvov<i Koi

(Tiweyyv^ ^HpaKXiov; ovofidêiv ^HpaKXelBa^.Ov

fjLTjv dXXa Kaiirep ovt(o<; ireTrXavrj/jievrjf; tt}?

l<nopia<^y ireipaaojieda rot? ^pa^^vrdraf; €Xov<tlv

dvTL\oyia<i rj yv(opLfio3TdT0v^ pudprvpa^ eiropLevoi

TCt)V y€ypafifievwv irepX tov dvBpof; diroBovvat tt}v

4 Bt7]y7j(Tiv. eTrel Kal^ XifjLcoi'iBtj^; 6 7roitjTr}<; ovk

Fivvo/JLOV \eyei tov Av/covpyov iraTpo^;, dWd Upu-TdviBo^ Koi TOV AvKOvpyov Kal tov ^vvo/iov, ol

Be^ rrXelaTOi (T')(6Bov ov% ovt(o yeveakoyovaiVydXXd UpoKXeovf; jxev tov

^

KpicrToBi-jpôv yeveadai

Xoov, ôov Be ^vpvTTcovTa, tovtov Be UpvTaviVtetc tovtov Be JLvvofiov, I^vvo/jlov Be HoXvBeKTTjv ex

irpoTepa^ yvvaiKO^, Av/covpyov Be vecoTepov ex

AL(Dvda(T7]<;, &)? AievTvx^Ba^ laToprjKeVy cktov jxev

diro TipoKXeov^, evBexaTOV Be dcj) *HpaKXeov<;.II. Tmv Be TTpoyovcov avTOv fuiXiaTa fiev iOav-

fidaOr) Xoo^;, 6^' ov koI tov<; eiXcoTa<; eTrotrjaavTO

BovXovf; ol XirapTiaTai Kal ^copav irpoaeKTrjaavTO

TToXXrjv ÂpfcdBcov diroTefiojievoi. Xeyerai Be tov

*iiril Koi Sintenis would begin the second chapter here,

assuming also a lacuna in the text preceding.

2o6

LYCURGUS, I. 3-II. i

Xenophon, also,^ makes an impression of simplicityin the passage where he says that Lycurgus lived in

the time of the Heracleidae. For in lineage, of

course, the latest of the Spartan kings were also

Heracleidae;but Xenophon apparently wishes to use

the name Heracleidae of the first and more immedi-ate descendants of Heracles, so famous in story.

However, although the history of these times is

such a maze, I shall try, in presenting my narrative,

to follow those authors who are least contradicted,or who have the most notable witnesses for what

they have written about the man. For instance,Simonides the poet says that Lycurgus was not the

son of Eunomus, but that both Lycurgus andEunomus were sons of Prytanis; whereas most writers

give a different genealogy, as follows : Aristodemus

begat Procles, Procles begat Soils, Soils begatEurypon, and he begat Prytanis, from whom sprangEunomus, and from Eunomus Polydectes by a first

wife, and Lycurgus, who was a younger son by a

second wife, Dionassa, as Dieutychidas has written,

making Lycurgus sixth from Procles, and eleventhfrom Heracles.2

IL Of these ancestors of Lycurgus, Soils was most

famous, under whom the Spartans made the Helotstheir slaves, and acquired by conquest from theArcadians a large additional tract of land. It is also

*

Reip. Lac. x. 8."Lycurgus is said to have lived in the

times of the Heracleidae."^Aristodemus, from whose twin sons Eurysthenea and

Procles the elder and younger royal lines at Sparta (the

Agids and Eurypontids) were descended, was the son of

Aristomachus, the son of Cleodaeus, the son of Hyllus, theson of Heracles. See Pausauias, iii. 1-10 ; Herodotus, vii.

204 and viii. 131.

207

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Xoov iv %G)/Jtft) 'XâXeirSi koI dvuBprp TroXiopKovfie-vov VTTO KXecropicoVi o/jLoXoyrjaat rrjv BopiKrrjTOv

yi]V avTOL<i at^rjcreiv^ el iriOL koI auT09 koI oi fier

2 avTov TTCLvre^ cltto t^9 ttXijctlov 7rr)yr]<f. yevofxevcov

he rcbv opKLcov^ o-vvayayovTa rot'? /Lt€^' eavrov

hihovai T(p fiT) TTioVTC Tr)v âaiXeiav ou8ez/o9 Be

KapTeprjoraino^t aXXa TrdvTwv inovTayv, avrbv iirl

iracTb KaraâvTa koX irepLppavdfievov en tcov tto-

XefiLcov irapovTwv dTreXdelv Koi ttjv ^(^(opav Kara-

<T')(elvt ft>? P'V "TrdvTcov ttlovtcov.

'AXXa Kaiirep eirl tovtol^ davpLdôvT€<i avrov

ovK aTTO rovTOV Tr]v olKiav, dXXa rov iracho^

avTOv TrpocTTjyopevaav Fivpv7r(ovTLSa<;, ore Sofcei

TT/owTo? FiVpvTTwv TO dyav fjLovapxi'Kov dvelvai t^?

âaCXeiaî Br^jxaywyodv koi x^P^ôfi€vo<; T0t9 ttoX-

3 Xoi?. €K Be tt}? T0iavT7j<; dveaeca^ rov fxev Brj/xou

OpaavvopbevoVy reov S* varepov âaiXetov ra fiev

aTrexOavoixevcdV t& ûiêaOat tou9 ttoWov?, rd

he irpo^ X^P^^ V ^^' daOeveiav viroêpopevayVy dvo-

puia KoX draîa Kareaxe rrjv %7rdpT7]v iirl iroXvv

Xpovov vcf)* 979 /cal rov Trarepa rov Av/covpyov

âcnXevovra (7vve/3rj reXevrijcrac. Biepv/ccov yap

dyJrtpaxi'Ct'V rtvd, pLayeLpiKrj kottlBl TrXrjyeU dire-

Oave, ToS TTpeajSurepw TraiBl UoXvBeKTrj Kara-

XiTToov rhv âcrCXeiav,III. Â'iTo6av6vroav€pdv yeveadai Kvovcrav ejSacTLXevev. iirel

^dpnleav with Bekker and Cobet : dpKlwv bfioXoyiSiv.

208

LYCURGUS, II. i-iii. I

related of this Soils that when he was besieged bythe Cleitorians in a rough and waterless place, he

agreed to surrender to them the land which he had

conquered if he himself and all his men with himshould drink from the adjacent spring. After the

oaths to this agreement were taken, he assembledhis men and offered his kingdom to the one whoshould not drink

; no one of them, however, could

forbear, but all of them drank, whereupon Soils him-self went down last of all to the water, sprinkled his

face merely, while the enemy were still at hand to

see, and then marched away and retained his ter-

ritory, on the plea that all had not drunk.

But although on these grounds he was held in

great admiration, his royal line was not named from

him, but were called Eurypontids from his son,because Eurypon appears to have been the first kingto relax the excessive absolutism of his sway, seekingfavour and popularity with the multitude. But in

consequence of such relaxation the people grew bold,and succeeding kings were some of them hated for

trying to force their way with the multitude, andsome were brought low by their desire for favour or

through weakness, so tliat lawlessness and confusion

prevailed at Sparta for a long time ;and it was ow-

ing to this that the father of Lycurgus, a reigning

king, lost his life. For as he was trying to separatesome rioters, he was stabbed to death with a butcher's

knife, leaving the kingdom to his elder son,

Polydectes.III. Polydectes also died soon afterwards, and

then, as was generally thought, the kingdom de-volved upon Lycurgus ;

and until his brother's wife

was known to be with child, he was king. But as soon

209

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

S^ Tovro Td)(i(TTa jja-Oero, ryu fiev PaaCKeiav

aTrecpTjve tov TratSo? ovaav, avirep dpprjv yev7)TaL,

T7JV Be cip')(rjv avTuî cw? CTrtTyooTro? SiecTre. rov<;

Be Twv 6p(pav(ov jSaaiXecov e7rLTp6irovv6fiaôv. a>9 Be 17 yvvr]

TTpooreTrefi'Tre Kpvcpa kol X070U9 eiroielroy ôv-

\o/ievrj BtacpOelpat to /3pe(f)0r}

Belv d/n^Xicr/covo-av avTrjv KaX

(f)ap/jLaKevo/jLevr}v BiaXvfjbaiveaOau to aSyjJLa KaX

KivBvveveLV avTco yap fxeXrjaeLv otto)? evdv^ e/c-

3 iToBwv earai to yewtjOev. ovtq) Be irapayayayv

d')(pi TOV TOKOV T7)V dvOpwiTov, CO? rjadeTO tlktov-

aaVt elaeirefiyjre irapeBpov^ toI^ a)BlaLV avTrf'^

Kol ^v\aKa<;, 0*9 yv TrpoaTerayfievov, eav fiev

dijXv Te')(6y, irapaBovvat tol^ yvvai^lv, eav Be

dppeVy KOjJbiaat Trpcx; eavTOV 6 tl av tv^V mrpaT-T(ov. eTV')(e Be BeiirvovvTO^ avTOv pêTO, tmv 41

dpxovTcov aTTOKVTjdev dppev KaX Traprjaav ol vTrrj-

4 peTai TO TraiBdpiov avrw Kop,iôvre<;. 6 Be Be^d-

fievo^, &)? XeycTai, kol irpo^ tov^ 7rap6vTa<; elircov,

"BaoîXeu? vp'tv yeyovev, c5 %7rapTtdTai,^^ KaTeKXi,-

vev ev Tjj fiaatXiKfj X^P9 '^^^^ yâpiKaov oDvopâae

Bia TO T0v<i TrdvTa<; elvat irepi'xapelî dyapukvovâvTov TO <f)p6v'r}p,a Kal tyjv BcKaioavvrjv. eâal-\evae Be firjva^ 6kt(o to (Tvpîrav. tjv Be Kal

TaXXa 7repLfiXe7rT0<i viro t&v ttoXltcov, Kal TrXeio-

^vpoSiKovs with most MSS. and edd. : vpoUKus with A

(corrected), the Doric form.

210

LYCURGUS, in. 1-4

as he learned of this, he declared that the kingdombelonged to her offspring, if it should be male,and himself administered the government only as

guardian. Now the guardians of fatherless kingsare called "

prodikoi"

by the Lacedaemonians.

Presently, however, the woman made secret over-

tures to him, proposing to destroy her unborn babeon condition that he would marry her when he wasa king of Sparta ; and although he detested her

character, he did not reject her proposition, but

pretended to approve and accept it. He told her,

however, that she need not use drugs to produce a

miscarriage, thereby injuring her health and en-

dangering her life, for he would see to it himself

that as soon as her child was born it should be putout of the way. In this manner he managed to

bring the woman to her full time, and when helearned that she was in labour, he sent attendants

and watchers for her delivery, with orders, if a girlshould be born, to hand it over to the women, butif a boy, to bring it to him, no matter what he was

doing. And it came to pass that as he was at supperwith the chief magistrates, a male child was born,and his servants brought the little boy to him.

He took it in his arms, as we are told, and said to

those who were at table with him,^' A king is bom

unto you, O men of Sparta ;

"then he laid it down

in the royal seat and named it Charilaiis, or People's

Jotjy because all present were filled with joy,

admiring as they did his lofty spirit and his

righteousness. And so he was king only eightmonths in all. But on other accounts also hewas revered by his fellow-citizens, and more than

211

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

v€<; eyivovTO r&v a>9 eTriTpoTTO) âaiXicofi koI pa-

(Tikifcrjv iôvaiav €')(pVTL iretdo/jiivcov ol St aperrjv

TTpoa-ixovTCf; avrw koL iroLelv edeXovre^; iroifiax;

TO TTpoo-raTTOfievov.

^Hv Si Ti KciX TO (pOovOVV KOL TTpOî Tr)V av^r](TCV

ovTt via) 7r€ip(ojii€pov ivicrraaOai, pLokiaTa fxev

ol avyyevelî koI ol/ceioi rrj^ rod âaiXico^; p.7]Tpo^

vppiaOai BoKOV(rr)<;, 6 Be a8e\(t>o^ avrrj^ AecoviBa^

Kol Opaaurepov ttotc tw Av/covpyo) XoiBoprjOeiît

xjireiTTev co? elBeiT] G-a(f>S)<; fiiWovra âacXevetv

avToVy VTTOvotav BlBov<; Kal irpoKaTaXa/jL/Sdvayv

BiaôXy Tov AvKovpyov, ec tl arvfifiair) ro) âai-Xet iraOelv, 009 iiriêPovXevKora. toiovtol Bi

TLveî XoyoL /cal irapa t?^9 yvvaLKOf; i^€(f)OLrcov'

€(/)' 0^9 âpioi)<; (pipcop /cal B€Bolkco<; to ahfXoVy

eyvo) (pvyelv airoBrjiiia rrjv virovotav, Kal irXavr}-

Orjvac p.i'X^pL^ av 6 aBeXfîBov^; iv rjXi/cla yev6p,evo<;

reKPcoarj BidBoxov t^? jSaaLXeia^.

IV. Oi;tg)9 dirdpa^: irpcoTOV jiev eU KpijTrjv

d^LKeTO' Kal Ta9 avTodi iroXLTeia^ KaTavor']aap

voficDV, <»9 otKaBe pLeToiacop Kal 'Xpr]a6fjL€i>o<;,€(ttl

S' 03P KaT€(j)p6p7)(T€P. €Pa Bk TOJP l'0p.L^0/jL€V(0V

eKel aocpwp koI iroXtTiKotP x^P^'^'' ^^'' ^^^%irelcra'i diriaTeuXep 6i9 Trjp XTrdpTrjp, SdXrjTa,

TTOirjTrjv fiep BoKovvTa XvpLKCJp pbeXcjp Kal irpo-

crxVf^(^ T?)r Tex^V^ TavTrjv TreTroirjjjbevop, epyo) Be

CLTvep ol KpaTLdTOi T(OP vofiodeTCJp BiairpaTTo-

212

LYCURGUS, HI. 4-iv. i

those who obeyed hun because he was guardian of

the kins^ and had royal power in his hands, werethose who clave to him for his virtues and were

ready and willing to do his bidding.There was a party, however, which envied him and

sought to impede the growing power of so young a

man, especially the kinsmen and friends of the

queen-mother, who thought she had been treated

with insolence. Her brother, Leonidas, actuallyrailed at Lycurgus once quite boldly, assuring himthat he knew well that Lycurgus would one daybe king, thereby promoting suspicion and pavingthe way for the accusation, in case any thinghappened to the king, that he had plotted againsthis life. Some such talk was set in circulation bythe queen-mother also, in consequence of which

Lycurgus was sorely troubled and fearful of what

might be in store for him. He therefore determinedto avoid suspicion by travelling abroad, and to

continue his wanderings until his nephew shouldcome of age and beget a son to succeed him on thethrone.

IV. With this purpose, he set sail, and came first

to Crete. Here he studied the various forms of

government and made the acquaintance of their

most distinguished men. Of some things he heartily

approved, and adopted some of their laws, that he

might carry them home with him and put them in

use ; for some things he had only contempt.One of the men regarded there as wise statesmenwas Thales, whom Lycurgus persuaded, out of favour

and friendship, to go on a mission to Sparta. NowThales passed as a lyric poet, and screened himselfbehind this art, but in reality he did the work of

213

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

2 fievov. XoyoL yctp rjcrav ai u>hal 7rpo<; evireiOeuiv

fcal ojiovoiav avafcXrjTi/coL, Sict fieXcov afia kol

pvO/jLcov iroXv TO Koo-fiiov i'XpVTCov /cat Karaara-

TLKov, a>v aKpoco/juevot KareirpavvovTO XeXyOorco';

ra 7]0r] koI avvtp/cetovPTO Ta> ^rjXq) tmv Ka\S)v

eK T^9 i7rL')(Ct}piaôv(Trj(; Tore 7rpb<; aWrjXovf;

KaKo6vpia<;, ware rpoirov tlvcl tcd AvKovpyay

TrpooSoiroielv ttjv iraiSevaiv avrwv i/cetvov.

3 'Atto Be T^9 Kp')]Trj(; 6 AvKovpyo^ eVt 'AcrCav

eirXevae, ôyXofievo^, o)? Xiyerai,, TaL<; Kp7)TLKaL<i

BiaLTai<;, evreXeaiv ovaaif; fcal avaT7jpaL<;, ra?

*lcoiîKa(; 7roXvT6Xeta9 fcal Tpv^d<i, coairep laTpo<;

awfiaaiv vyt,6LV0L<i virovXa kol voaooBr}, irapaâ-Xu)v aiToOewpriaai rrjv Eia(j)opav tcov /Sicou koI

4 TMV 7roXiT€L(OV. eK€L Bk KOI TOt? 'OfJit^pOV TTOiT]-

fiaaiv ivTvôbv Trpcorov, ox; eoL/ce, irapa toI<;

€fcy6voi,<i T0t9 Kp€0(l)vXov Btarrjpov/jLivoi^, koi

KariBoDV iv aviol^ tt)^ irpo^ r}Bov7)v koX cuKpaalav

BiaTpi^rj<^ TO iroXiTLKov kol TraiBevri/cop ovk

iXcLTTovo^ aîov a7rovB7J<; dvafie/jLty/jLepov, iypd-

'^{raTo TTpoOu/iiox; fcal avurjyayev &)? Bevpo ko/jllcov.

Tjv yap Ti9 r}Br) Boâ to)V iircov dfiavpa irapd

roL<;"EXXr)<Ti,v, ifce/CTijvTo Be ov ttoXXoI fieprj rtvd,

(TTTopdBifjv TT)^ '7roLi]o-€0)<;, 0)9 ervx^) Bia(j)epo/xipr)<;-

yvcopL/jLrjv Be avrrjv Kal fidXiara 7r/ocoT09 eiroiTjcje

AvKovpyo<;.5 AlyvTTTiOL B^ Kal 77/509 ai/Toi'9 d(f>t.K€a0ai rov

AvKOvpyov OLOvrai, kol rr)v aTro t5)v dXXayv yevcov

Tov pxi'Xjip'Ov BtuKpLcnv fidXiara Oavpdaavra

214

LYCURGUS, IV. 2-5

one of the mightiest lawgivers. For his odes wereso many exhortations to obedience and harmony,and their measured rhythms were permeated with

ordered tranquillity, so that those who listened to

them were insensibly softened in their dispositions,insomuch that they renounced the mutual hatreds

which were so rife at that time, and dwelt togetherin a common pursuit of what was high and noble.

Thales, therefore, after a fashion, was a forerunner

in Sparta of Lycurgus and his discipline.From Crete, Lycurgus sailed to Asia, with the

desire, as we are told, of comparing with the Cretan

civilization, which was simple and severe, that of

the lonians, which was extravagant and luxurious,

just as a physician compares with healthy bodies

those which are unsound and sickly ; he could then

study the difference in their modes of life and forms

of government. There too, as it would appear, hemade his first acquaintance with the poems of

Homer, which were preserved among the posterityof Creophylus ; and when he saw that the politicaland disciplinary lessons contained in them were

worthy of no less serious attention than the

incentives to pleasure and license which theysupplied, he eagerly copied and compiled them in

order to take them home with him. For these epics

already had a certain faint reputation among the

Greeks, and a few were in possession of certain

portions of them, as the poems were carried here

and there by chance ;but Lycurgus was the very

first to make them really known.The Aegyptians think that Lycurgus visited them

also, and so ardently admired their separation of the

military from the other classes of society that he

215

PLUTARCH'S TJVES

IxerevefyKelv et? rr]v îrdpTqv, Kal ')(a)pLaavTa

rov<^ fiavav(TOV<i Kal 'X,€iporexva<; daretov co? aX^;-

^0)9 TO TToXirev/jLa /cal fcaOapov diroBelâi. ravra

fiev ovv Alyv7rTL0L<; evioi koI t&v *EX\.7]vlkojv

6 avyypa(f)6cov fiapTvpovcnv' on. Be koI AijSurjv Kal 42

Îfi)]pLav eTrrjXOev 6 AvKOVpyo<; Kal Tvepl rr]V

^lvSiKr]v irXavTÔ 6l<; toI<; Tv/jbvoaoî.crTaL<; cofiuXr)-

creVy ovSiva ttXtjv Âpta-TOKparr) tov 'liT'jTdp')(pv

XTrapridrrjv elprjKora ywdxTKOfxev.V. Ot he AaKeBaL/jLoviot rov AvKovpyov iiro-

dovv diTovra Kal fieTeTrifJuirovro iroWdKi^, &>? rov^

fiev 0a(Ti\€i<; ovo/xa Kal tcjjl^v, dWo Be jurjBev Bca-

<f)ipov rSyv rroWcov e')(pvTa<^, ev SKeivw Be <j)V(Tiv

rjyefioviKTjv Kal Bvva/jiLV dvOpcoTrcov dywyov ovaav.

ov fMTjv ovBe T0?9 /Bao-iXevacv rjv dôvXr,TO<i q

TTapovaia rov dvBpo^y aXX' rjXiTLXov eKeivov avfi-

TTapovTO^ rjTTOV xjfipiôvcn ^^Tjcrât rot? iroXXoU.

2 eTraveXdodv ovv 7rpo<; ovrco BiaKetfievovf; evdv<i

e'TTe')(êipeLrd irapovra Kivelv Kal fjuedio-rdvai T7)v

TToXireuav, w? rcov Kara fiepo<i vofJLcav ovBev epyovovBe 6(l)eXo^, el

fjur) ri? Mairep aco/jLari irovr^pw Kal

yepovTt iravToBaTrSyv vocri-]ixdr(ov rrjv V7rdp)(ôvcrav

eKTrjâ<; Kal /jberaâXcov Kpdcrcv viro âppA-KoyvKal KaOapjxwv erepa^ dpêrat Katvr]<; BiaiTTj^;.

3 BiavorjdeU Be ravra irpayrov êv direBijfMTjcrev €69

AeX0ou9* Kal rw Oew Ovaa^ Kal %/3?7cra/x6z^09

eTravrjXOe rov Btaôrjrov eKeivov')(prja'/j,bv ko/jll-

fft)i/, w 6eo<^tXri fiev avrov rj YivOia irpoaetTre Kal

Oeov fiaXXov rj dvOpcoTrov, evvofMia^ Be 'XPVôvri.

2l6

LYCURGUS, !. 5-v. 3

transferred it to Sparta, and by removing mechanics

and artisans from participation in the government,made his civil polity really refined and pure. At anyrate, this assertion of the Aegyptians is confirmed bysome Greek historians. But that Lycurgus visited

Libya and Iberia also, and that he wandered over

India and had conferences with the Gymnosophists,no one has stated, so far as I know, except Aristo-

crates the son of Hipparclius, the Spartan.V. The Lacedaemonians missed Lycurgus sorely,

and sent for him many times. They felt that their

kings were such in name and station merely, butin everything else were nothing better than their

subjects, while in him there was a nature fitted to

lead, and a powder to make men follow him. How-ever, not even the kings were averse to having liim

at home, but hoped that in his presence their

subjects would treat them with less insolence.

Returning, then, to a people thus disposed, he at

once undertook to change the existing order of

things and revolutionize the civil polity. He wasconvinced that a partial change of the laws would beof no avail whatsoever, but that he must proceed as

a physician would with a patient who was debilitated

and full of all sorts of diseases ; he must reduce andalter the existing temperament by means of drugsand purges, and introduce a new and different

regimen. Full of this determination, he first madea journey to Delphi, and after sacrificing to the godand consulting the oracle, he returned with that

famous response in which the Pythian priestessaddressed him as " beloved of the gods, and rather

god than man," and said tiiat the god had granted

217

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ZiZovav Koi KaraLvelv€<f)r}

rov Oebv ^ ttoXv

KpaTiarrj tcov dWcov earai TroXtreicov,

4 ÊirapOeU ^6 tovtol^ TTpoarjyeTO^ tou9 aplff-

T0U9 Koi (TVV6(f)d7rT€adaL TrapeKoXety Kpvâ BiaXe-

y6jii€vo<; T0fc9 (plXoi^ Trpcjrov, elra ovroa^ Kara

fiLKpov cLTTTopLevo^ TrXetovcov fcal (Tvvi(TTa<; eVl ttjv

TTpdîv. CO? S' Kaipo'i rjKe, rptd/covra roi)? tt/jco-

T0U9 eKeXevce fierd TOiv ottXcov ecoOev eh dyopdv

irpoeXOelv ifCTrXtjêco^ evefca koX (poôv irpof; rov^

avrtTTpdrrovraf;. wv elKOcn rovq iTTLâvecrTdrovf;

"E/9fti7r7ro9 dveypayfre' rov Se fjidXicra rcov

AvKovpyov epycov Koivcovrja-avTa Trdvrcov koX (tv/x-

TTpayfiareva-dfievov rd irepX rov^ v6/jiov<; ÂpO/Mid-

5 Bav ovofidôvaLv, dp')(^0fiev7]<;Be Trj<; rapa'X/i^; 6

âaiXev<; XapiXao^; <po^r]Oel<; a)9 eV avrov 6Xr)<;

T?}9 TTpdêax; avviaTa[ievr)<iy Kare^vye 7rpo<; rrjv

XaXKLoiKov elra iretcrdel^ koX Xaficov 6p/€ov<;

dvearr] kcli [JLerel)(€.twv TrpaTTo/juevcoVf (pvaei

TTpao'i cov W9 TTOU Kol Xeyerai aru/xfiao-iXevovra

TovÂp)/iXaov avro) 7Tpo<; tou? iyKco/iidôvrafi rov

veaviaKov elirelv**110)9 3' dv etr) XapLXao<; dvrjp

dyaOo^y 09 ovBe Tol<^ irovqpol^; 'yâXeirof; iari;'

6 HXeiovcov Be KaivoTO/uLou/jievcov vtto tov Av-

Kovpyov 'TTpcoTOV rjv fcal fieytarov 77 KaTaaraai'^

ra)v yepovTcov, tjv (pijacv o TlXdrcov rfj twv âai-Xecov dpxv ^XeyfJiaivovar] pîyOelaav koX yevofievrjv

la6yjrr](l)ov eh rd /xeyiara a-corrjpLav dfia Ka\

*TTpotrriyeTo Cobet : vpocrrjyf.

218

LYCURGUS, V. 3-6

his prayer for good laws, and promised him a

constitution which should be the best in the world.

Thus encouraged, he tried to bring the chief menof Sparta over to his side, and exhorted tliem to puttheir hands to the work with him, explaining his

designs secretly to his friends at first, then little bylittle engaging more and uniting them to attemptthe task. And when the time for action came, heordered thirty of the chief men to go armed into

the market-place at break of day, to strike conster-

nation and terror into those of the opposite party.The names of twenty of the most eminent amongthem have been recorded by Hermippus ; but theman who had the largest share in all the under-

takings of Lycurgus and co-operated with him in theenactment of his laws, bore the name of Arthmiadas.When the tumult began. King Charilaiis, fearing that

the whole affair was a conspiracy against himself, fled

for refuge to the Brazen House ;^ but he was soon

convinced of his error, and having exacted oaths

for his safety from the agitators, left his place of

refuge, and even joined them in their enterprise,

being of a gentle and yielding disposition, so muchso, indeed, that Archelaiis, his royal colleague, is said

to have remarked to those who were extolling the

young king," How can Charilaiis be a good man,

when he has no severity even for the bad ?"

Among the many innovations which Lycurgusmade, the first and most important was his institu-

tion of a senate, or Council of Elders, which, as

Plato says,2 by being blended with the " feverish"

government of the kings, and by having an equalvote with them in matters of the highest importance,

* A temple of Athena. '^

Laws, p. C91 e.

219

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

<T(ii^poavvr}v 'irapa(T')(eiv. alcopov/jLevr) y^p 17

irokiTela koX aTroKXiVovcra vvv jiev a)? tov<; âa-L-

Xei? iirl TvpavviSa, vvv Se to? to ttXtjOo^; cttI

7 hrj/uLOKpariav, olov ep/na rrjv twv yepovrcov ap^Vîv fiea-cp Oefievr] koI laoppoirtjaao-a rrjv aacâXe-

ardTTjv rd^tv eo-%6 /cat /cardo-raaiv, del rojv oktcd

Kol eiKOdi yepovTWV rot? jiev âaiXevai, Trpoari-

Oepêvwv oaov dvri/Srjvai tt/do? Brj/jLOKpaTiav,

avOi^ Be virep rod/jlt) yeviaOat rvpavvioa tov

hrjfjbov dvappcovvvvTcov. Toaovrov<i Si (j)T)ac Kara-

(naOrjvaL tov^ yepovra^ ÂpiaToreXrji;, on

TptdKovra rcov irpooroov fierd AvKovpyov jevo-

fjievcov Bvo TTjv TTpdîv iyKareXLTTOv diroBeiXtdaav-

8 re?, 6 Be ^(paXpo^ e'f dpxî^ (fyrjcn roaourov^

yeveadai rov? t?}? yvd)fjL7}<; p^Taa')(ôvTa^. etr) S* dvTi Kol TO TOV dpiOpôv BC el3Bo/xdBo<i TeTpdBiTToXXairXacnaaOeicrri^ diroTeXovpêvov, koI otl rot?

avTOV pêpecTLv t(T0<i cov fieTa ttjv e^dBa TeXeLo^;

eaTLv. epoX Be. Boxec p,dXtaTa ToaovTOV<; diro-

Belât Tov<; yepovTa<i otto)? ol Traz^re? elev Tpid-KovTa, TOfc? o/cTO) KOL e'lKocji Tolv Bvolv ffacTtXeoiv 43

TTpoaTtdep^votv.VI. OuTft) Be irepl TavTrfv eairovBaae ttjv dp^r]v

6 AvKOvpyo<; coo-tc pâvTeiav eK AeXcjycov Kop,i(Tai

frepl avTT]<;, rjv prjTpav KaXovaiv.e)(êi

Be ol/to)?*"Ato9 ^vXXaviov ^

/cal \\.6avd^ XvXXavLa<; ^lepov

ISpvadpêvov, (l)vXd<; ^vXdâvTa koI w/Sa? a)ySa-

âvTa, Tpid/covTa yepovaiav avv dp)(âyeTai<;

KaTaaTTjcravTa, u>pa^ ef wpa? direXXdêiv pêra^v^'SvWavlou, :Zv\\avias Bekker adopts the corrections of

Bryan to 'EWaviov and 'EWavlas.

220

LYCURGUS, V. 6-vi. i

brought safety and due moderation into counsels of

state. For before this the civil polity was veeringand unsteady, inclining at one time to follow the

kings towards tyranny, and at another to follow the

multitude towards democracy ; but now, by makingthe power of the senate a sort of ballast for the shipof state and putting her on a steady keel, it achieved

the safest and the most orderly arrangement, since

the twenty-eight senators always took the side of the

kings when it was a question of curbing democracy,and, on the other hand, always strengthened the

people to withstand the encroachments of tyranny.The number of the senators was fixed at twenty-eight because, according to Aristotle, two of the

thirty original associates of Lycurgiis abandoned the

enterprise from lack of courage. But Sphaerus saysthat this was originall}'^ the number of those whoshared the confidence of Lycurgus. Possibly there is

some virtue in this number being made up of seven

multiplied by four, apart from the fact that, beingequal to the sum of its own factors, it is the next

perfect number after six. But in my own opinion,

Lycurgus made the senators of just that number in

order that the total might be thirty when the two

kings were added to the eight and twenty.VI. So eager was Lycurgus for the establishment

of this form of government, that he obtained anoracle from Delphi about it, which they call a" rhetra." And this is the way it runs :

" Whenthou hast built a temple to Zeus Syllanius andAthena Syllania, divided the people into '

phylai'

andinto 'obai,' and established a senate of thirty mem-bers, including the '

archagetai,' then from time to

221

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

BaySu/fa? re Kal Kva/cicovo<!y outox; elcrcfiipeiv re

KoX aîaraaOar Bd/xM Be rav Kvpiav ^fiev Kal

Kparo^.^^ iv tovtol<; to fiev <^v\a<^ (pvXdât Kal

ft)/3a9 Gupdâi BieXelv eari Kal KaravelfMai to

ir\rjdo<i eh /JL€piBa<;, cov ra? jjiev cpv\d<;, ra? Be

mffa^ TrpoarjyopevKev. dpyarêTai Be ol âaiXeh\iyovTai, to Be aTreXXdêiv eKKXrjaidêiV' ore rr)v

dp'x/iv Kal rrjv airlav rr)'^ iroXireia'^ eh rov Yiv-

6lov dvrjyjre. rr]v Be Vta^vKav êL/jLappo<;,^ Kal rov

K.vaKicova vvv Olvovvra Trpoo-ayopevovaiv 'Apt-

arore\r}<^ Be rov fiev l^vaKicova iroraôv, rrjv Be

Ha^VKav yecjivpav, iv fieaco Be rovrcov ra? eK-

K\r]ala<; 97701/, ovre iraardBcov ovacov ovre aW'rj<;

rivo<i KaracTKevrjf;. ovOev yap were ravra Trpo?

ev/SovXlav elvai, fiaWov Be /Skdrrreiv, (j)\vapd)Bei<;

direpyaôfxeva Kal ^(avvovf; ^povi^fiari Kevco ra<;

Biavoia^ rcov (TV/jLTropevofMevoyv, orav eh dydX/xaraKal ypa(j)a<; rj TTpoorKrjvia Oedrpcov rj areya<; /3ov-

Xevrrjpbcov i^(7KT]/j.iva<; rrepirrSi^ eKKXrâidôvre^

drro^Xeirwai, rov Be TrXr]6ov<; ddpoiaOevro<i el-

irelv fiev ovBevl yvcopLrjv rcov dXXwv ecfêlroy Tr}v B*

VTTo rcov yepovrcov Kal rcov âatXecov TrporeOecaav

eTTLKplvai Kvpio<i r)v 6 Bf}fM0<i. varepov puevrob rcov

TToXXcov dcpaipeaet Kal rrpoaOeaei rd<; yv(o/jLa<; Bta-

cTrpe(j)6vrcov Kal TrapaîaôfiepcoVf IloXvBcopo<i Kal

êoiropbiTOf; ol /3acnXeL<; rdBe ry pijrpa irapeve-

ypayjrav "At Be cTKoXtdv 6 8a/xo9 eXotro, rov<^

TTpeo-pvyevea^; Kal dp')(ayera^ drroararrjpa<; rj/jiev,'^

rovr eart pLrj Kvpovv, dXX^ oXco<; dcplaraaOat Kal*Xelfiappos this, or some other later name, ia thought to

have fallen from the text by Sintenis-, after E. Curtius,

Peloponnesu'i, ii, p. 315 ; Coraes and Bekker have tV 5f

Ba^vKuv Kal rhv Kj'a/ciwva, with the MSS.

222

LYCURGUS, VI. 1-4

cime *appellazein

*

between Babyca^ and Cnacion,i

and there introduce and rescind measures ; but the

people must have the deciding voice and the power."In these clauses^ the ^^

phylai"and the " obai

"refer

to divisions and distributions of the people into clans

and pkratriesJ or brotherhoods; by"archagetai" the

kings are designated, and "apellazein"

means to

assemble the people, with a reference to Apollo, the

Pythian god, who was the source and author of the

polity. The Babyca is now called Cheimarrus, andthe Cnacion Oenus ; but Aristotle says that Cnacionis a river, and Babyca a bridge. Between these theyheld their assemblies, having neither halls nor anyother kind of building for the purpose. For by such

things Lycurgus thought good counsel was not

promoted, but rather discouraged, since the serious

})urposes of an assembly were rendered foolish andfutile by vain thoughts, as they gazed upon statues

and paintings, or scenic embellishments, or extrava-

gantly decorated roofs of council halls. Whenthe multitude was thus assembled, no one of

them was permitted to make a motion, but themotion laid before them by the senators and kingscould be accepted or rejected by the people. After-

wards, however, when the people by additions andsubtractions perverted and distorted the sense of

motions laid before them. Kings Polydorus and Theo-

pompus inserted this clause into the rhetra :" But if

the people should adopt a distorted motion, thesenators and kings shall have power of adjourn-ment" ; that is, should not ratify the vote, butdismiss outright and dissolve the session, on the

*Probably names of small tributaries of the river Eurotas.

223

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

SiaXveiv rov Srjfiovy co? i/crpeTTovra koX fierafroi-

5 ovvra rrjv yv(t)fi7]v irapa to îXria'TOV. eireLaav

Be Koi avTol rrjv iroXiv co? toO Oeov ravra irpocr-

rdaaovTO^, w? irov Tvpralo^ iTri/ni/JLvrjrai Bia

rovTcov

*t>oL,8ov aKovaavre^ llvOwvoOev o'lKaB' eveiKav

fiavTeLa<; re Oeov kol Tekeevr eVea*

dpxîv fi€v fiov\r]<i OeoTL^rjTOV^ âcnXrja^;,

oldi fiekei X7rdpTa<; Ifiepoecrcra ttoXl^,

nrpea^vra^ re jipoura^, eireira Be Brjiiora^

ai'Bpa^;,

evOeiai^ prjTpaL^ dvTa7rafjLetj3ofi6vov^.

VIT. OuTCi) TO iroXirev/jia rov AvKovpyov fjd-

fai^To?, o/x«? aKoarov ert rrjv oXLyap-)(îav Koi

ia')(ypdv ol /xer' avrov opcovre^; aiTapy&crav teal

6vfjL0V/jLevr]Vy w? (j)rj(TLV6 UXdrcov, olov yjrdXiov

efi^dXXov(Tiv avrfj ttjv tcop i(f)6p(ov Bvva/jLiv, ereai

irov jidXiara rpidfcovra koi e/carov fierd AvKOVp-

yov irpcoTwv tmv irepX "EXaroz^ i<^6pa3v Karaara-

2 OivTcov iirl SeoirofiTrov âaiXevovro^;' ov Kai

<âaiv vTTo T?)9 eavTov yvvaiKo<; oveiBcôfievov ax?

iXdrrcD 'jrapaBcocrovTa rol<; iraicrl ttjv âacXelav rj

irapeXape, "Metfo) [xev ovvT ^lirelv, "Saw 'y^povLoi-

ripav." Tft) yap ovri to dyav diro/SaXovcra fiera

Tov (l)66vov BLe<f)vye rov kivBvvov, ware/jL7]

Tradelv

224

LYCURGUS, VI. 4-vii. 2

ground that it was perverting and changing the

motion contrary to the best interests of the state.

And they were actually able to persuade the citythat the god authorized this addition to the rhetra^as Tyrtaeus reminds us in these verses :

—" Phoebus Apollo's the mandate was which they

brought from Pytho,

Voicing the will of the god, nor were his wordsunfulfilled :

Sway in the council and honours divine belong to

the princesUnder whose care has been set Sparta's city of

charm ;

Second to them are the elders, and next come the

men of the people

Duly confirming by vote unperverted decrees."

VII. Although Lycurgus thus tempered his civil

polity, nevertheless the oligarchical element in it

was still unmixed and dominant, and his successors,

seeing it "swelling and foaming," as Plato says,^

"imposed as it were a curb upon it, namely, the

power of the ephors." It was about a hundred and

thirty years after Lycurgus that the first ephors,Elatus and his colleagues, were appointed, in the

reign of Theopompus. This king, they say, on beingreviled by his wife because the royal power, whenhe handed it over to his sons, would be less thanwhen he received it, said :

"Nay, but greater, in

that it will last longer." And in fact, by renouncingexcessive claims and freeing itself from jealous hate,

royalty at Sparta escaped its perils, so that the

Spartan kings did not experience the fate which the

*Laws, p. 692 a.

225

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

a IS/leo-arjvLoi koI Âpyeloi tou? Trap* avroi^ jSa^

cTiXet? eSpaaaVf /irjEep ivBovvai pîjSe 'xâXdaai

T^? 6ôvaLa<; eVl to hrjpiOTiKov ideXijcravras. o

KoX jjLoXiaTa Tr]v AvKovpyov ao^lav koI irpovoiav

iiroirjae âvepav et9 ra? M.€crar]VL(ov kol *ApyeL(ov,

avyyevwv kol yeirovcov, Bijpuwv koI âaiXecov ard-

3 cret? Kal KaK07ro\iT€La<; dôpwaiv, oi tmv lacov

CLTT^dp')(rj<^ T€Tvxn^0T6<;, iv Se Tft) KXijpw Kal irkeov

e)(êiv €KeivcDV h6âvTe<i, ovk iirl irokvv ^povov

evSaifJLOvrjaav, a)OC v^pei fiep t&v l3a(Tikia)V» ovk

euTretOeia Be tcop o-^Xwv, ra KaOecrTwra avvrapd-

âvre<i eBeiâv on Oelov ^v 0)9 dXrjdax; evrv^rjpLa 44

TOL<i X'n-apridTai<; 6 rrjv iroXiTeiav appLoad/juevo';

Kal K€pdaa<; Trap* avrol^;. ravra p,ev ovv varepov.

VIII. Aevrepov Be rcov AvKovpyov 7roXiTevp,d-

rcov Kal veaviKcararov 6 t^9 7% dvaBaapL6<; eart.

B€ivrj<i yap ovarjf; dvcopLoXlaî Kal ttoXXcov aKTi}'

pLovdiv Kal drropcov iirKfyepopievcov rfj iroXec, rov Be

ttXovtov iravrdiraaLV eh oXiyovf; avveppvijKorofi,

v/Spiv Kal cl)06vov Kal KaKovpyiav Kal rpv^tr^v kol

TO, TovTCDV en irpea^vTepa Kal /xetfo) voaripiara

2 nroXiTeia^, ttXovtov Kal ireviav, eêXavvcov, avve-

ireLcre ryjv yôapav airaaav eh pueaov Oevra^ ef

dpxv^ dvaBdaacrOat, Kal ^rjv puer dXXijXcDV dirav-

Ta? opbaXeh Kal la-oKXrjpov^ roh Pioi^ yevop,evov<i,

TO Be irponTelov dperfi pL€n6vra<;, co? aXXrj(; erepcp

7r/309 ejepov ovk ovarjî BLa<popd<i ovBe dvcaoryro^:,

226

p LYCURGUS, VII. 2-viii. 2

Messenians and Argives inflicted upon their kings,who were unwilling to yield at all or remit their

power in favour of the people. And this brings into

the clearest light the wisdom and foresight of

Lycurgus, when we contrast the factions and mis-

government of the peoples and kings of Messenia

and Argos, who were kinsmen and neighbours of the

Spartans. They were on an equality with the

Spartans in the beginning, and in the allotment of

territory were thought to be even better off than

they, and yet their prosperity did not last long,but wliat with the insolent temper of their kingsand the unreasonableness of their peoples, their

established institutions were confounded, and theymade it clear that it was in very truth a divine

blessing which the Spartans had enjoyed in the

man who framed and tempered their civil polityfor them. These events, however, were of later

date.

VIII. A second, and a very bold political measureof Lycurgus, in his redistribution of the land. Forthere was a dreadful inequality in this regard, the

city was heavily burdened with indigent and help-less people, and wealth was wholly concentrated in

the hands of a few. Determined, therefore, to

banish insolence and envy and crime and luxury,and those yet more deep-seated and afflictive dis-

eases of the state, poverty and wealth, he persuadedhis fellovz-citizens to make one parcel of all their

territory and divide it up anew, and to live withone another on a basis of entire uniformity and

equality in the means of subsistence, seeking pre-eminence through virtue alone, assured that there

was no other difference or inequality between man

227

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irXrjv o(Tr)v alaxp^^^v yjr6yo<; opiêu koX koXmv

3 ÊiTTciycov Se TO) X6y(p to epyov eveifie rrfv jxev

aWrjv T0i9 TrepLOLKOL'i Aa/c(ovLK7)v Tpidfivpiov^

KXrjpov<;, TTjV Be eh to daTV ttjv %7rdpT7)v crvvTS-

\ov(Tav €paKta')(î\iov<;' ToaovTOi yap eyevovTO

K\ripoi SirapTiaTcov evtot Be (fiaai top p-ev Av-

Kovpyov eâKia')(^Ckiov^ vetpât, TpLa)(^tX[ov<; Be

p.eTa Tavra irpoaOelvai UoXvBcopov' ol Be tou?

p,ev r)p,laei<; to)v evaKLa)(^Lki(t)v tovtov, tov<; Be

4 r)pLLaei,<; AvKOvpyop. 6 Be K\7Jpo<; rjv eicdaTOV

TO(TovTo<; wcTTe diro(f>opav êpeiv dvBpX jiev e/3Bo-

fxrjKovTa KptOcop pêBip^vov^, yvvaiKl Be BcoBexa,

Kol Tcop vypcop KapTTCOP dpa\6ya)<i to ttX^ô?.

dpKeaeip yap wero too-qvtop avTol<;, Trj<; Tpo^rj<;

TTpo^ eveîap kuI vyeiap iKapr}^, dWov Be p,rj-

Bepo<i BerjaopêpOL^. XeyeTat B* avTOP vaTepopTTore j(^p6pw Trjp '^copap Bcepxop'CPOP e^ d'jroB7]/j,La<i

dpTL TeOepLcrpeprjp, opcopTU tou? crcopov^ vrapaX-

X?JXof9 Kal op.aXei^, /xetBidcrai, /cal elirelp Trpo'i

TOL'9 irapopra^ ft)9 r) AaKcoPifcr) âiveTai irdaa

TToWayp dBeX(f)Ci)P elpau pewcTl pepe/jurj/jLepcop.

IX. Êirtxeipâa^ Be kol to. eTrtTrXa Bcaipelp,OTTW? iraPTdiradLP eêXoc to dpc<T0P Kal dv(*}-

/jLaXov, eVel xaXeiro)'^ ecopa TrpocrBexopêpov^; rrjp

dpTiKpv<; dcpaipeatp, eTepa irepirjXOep 6B(p Kal

KaTeTToXLTeuaaro ttjp iv tovtol^ irXeopeîap.

irpcoTOP pêp yap dKupaxra*; Trap po/xta/jLa %pv-aovp Kal dpyupovp p,6pa) ')(prja6aL T(p aiBr^ptp

TTpoaeTaê' Kal T0VT(p Be diro ttoXXov aTaOfwv22S

I LYCURGUS, vm. 2-ix. i

and man than that which was established by blamefor base actions and praise for good ones.

Suiting the deed to the word, he distributed the rest

of the Laconian land among the "perioeci," or free

provincials, in thirty thousand lots, and that which

belonged to the city of Sparta, in nine thousand

lots, to as many genuine Spartans. But some saythat Lycurgus distributed only six thousand lots

among the Spartans, and that three thousand wereafterwards added by Polydorus ; others still, that

Polydorus added half of the nine thousand to the

half distributed by Lycurgus. The lot of each was

large enough to produce annually seventy bushels of

barley for a man and twelve for his wife, with a

proportionate amount of wine and oil. Lycurgusthought that a lot of this size would be sufficient for

them, since they needed sustenance enough to pro-mote vigour and health of body, and nothing else.

And it is said that on returning from a journey sometime afterwards, as he traversed the land just after

the harvest, and saw the heaps of grain standing

parallel and equal to one another, he smiled, andsaid to them that were by :

" All Laconia looks

like a family estate newly divided among manybrothers."

IX. Next, he undertook to divide up their movable

property also, in order that every vestige of uneven-ness and inequality might be removed ; and when hesaw that they could not bear to have it taken fromthem directly, he took another course, and overcametheir avarice by political devices. In the first place,he withdrew all gold and silver money from currency,and ordained the use of iron money only. Then to

a great weight and mass of this he gave a trifling

«a9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Koi oyKOv Bvva/jbtv 6\lyr)v eScoKCV, cj(tt€ Sexa

fjLvSyv afxotfir]v aTroOrjKrjf; re /jL6yd\7]<i iv otKLa

2 ZelaOai kol feuyof? ayovTo<;. rovrov Be Kvpco-OevTo^ eêireaev dBi/oj/iidTcov yevt] iroWd ttj^;

AaKeBaifiovo^, Tt9 yap rj KXkiTTeiv ejneWev rj

BcopoBo/celv fj d7ro(TT€p€tv 7] dpTrdêiv o jjLi^re

Kara/cpv^jrai Bvvarov rjv jj.i]re Ke/crrjaBai, ^tjXcotop,dXXd /iTjBe KaraKoy^rai \vai,Teke<;' oêi ydp, o)?

Xeyerai, Biairvpov aioijpov rb o-Toixcofxa Kara-

a/36aa<; d(j)6i\ero rrjv et? raWa ')(peiav koX Bv-

vafJLiVy dBpavov<i fcal Bvaipyov yevofxevov.3 Mero. Be rovro Ta)v d^pW'^^^ '^^^ irepiaaSiv

67roi€LTO rex^cov êvrjXaalav. efieXXov Be irov koI

fi7jBevo<; i^€XavvovTO<; al iroXXal to) kolvw vo/jLia-

[xajL auveK7T€a€C(T0ai, BidOeaiv r&v epycov ovk eyov-T(ov. TO ydp aiBrjpovv dycoyipov ovk rjv 7rpo<i tou?

dXXov<i ''KXXrjvaf; ovB^ elê ri/uLrjv KarayeXcopevov,(Mcrre ovBe TTpiaaOal ri tmv êvifccov Kal pco~TTLKCov V7rfjp)(êv, ovB' elaeirXei <p6pT0<; ipbiropLKo^

eU Tou? Xipeva^, ovBe iireâive rrjf; AaKa)viK7J<;ov ao(pi(TTr]<i XoycoVi ov pdvTL<i dyvpTiK6<;, ovxeratpcov rpoêu?, ov 'Xpvo'MV Ti,<;, ovk dpyvpcov

KaXXcoTTLapdrcov Bypcovpyo^, are Brj vopiaparo^4 OVK ovTO^. dXXd ovT(0oL<;, oBov OVK €Xovcrr]<; €l<; peaov rr}? eif-

7ropLa<i, dXX* iyKar(pKoBopripev7]<; Kal dpyov(Tr}<;,

Blo Kal rd irpo'XêLpa to)V aKCVcov Kal dvayKolaravra, KXLvrrjpe^ koi Bi^poi Kal rpdireâi, /9e\-

Tiara irap avrol^ iBi]pLovpyelro, Kal kooOwv 6

230

I LYCURGUS, IX. 1-4

value, so that ten minas' worth ^required a large

store-room in the house, and a yoke of cattle to

transport it. When this money obtained currency,

many sorts of iniquity went into exile fromLacedaemon. For who would steal, or receive as a

bribe, or rob, or plunder that which could neither be

concealed, nor possessed with satisfaction, nay, noreven cut to pieces with any profit? For vinegarwas used, as we are told, to quench the red-hot iron,

robbing it of its temper and making it worthless for

any other purpose, when once it had become brittle

and hard to work.

In the next place, he banished the unnecessaryand superfluous arts. And even without such banish-

ment most of them would have departed with theold coinage, since there was no sale for their pro-ducts. For the iron money could not be carried into

the rest of Greece, nor had it any value there, butwas rather held in ridicule. It was not possible,

therefore, to buy any foreign wares or bric-a-brac ;

no merchant-seamen brought freight into their

harbours ;no rhetoric teacher set foot on Laconian

soil, no vagabond soothsayer, no keeper of harlots, no

gold- or silver-smith, since there was no money there.

But luxury, thus gradually deprived of that whichstimulated and supported it, died away of itself, andmen of large possessions had no advantage over the

poor, because their wealth found no public outlet,but had to be stored up at home in idleness. In this

way it came about that such common and necessaryutensils as bedsteads, chairs, and tables were most

excellently made among them, and the Laconian

"kotlion," or drinking-cup, was in very high repute» About £40, or $200.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

AaK(oviKo<; evSoKifjLei fidXtara irpo^ rci^ drparela^f5 6)9 <f>7](Ti YLpLTia^. ra fyap avayKaiw^; TTivofêva

TCJv vSdrtov Kol hvawirovvra rrjv o^jriv direKpvrr-rero rfj Xpoa, koX tov OoXepov irpocTKOirTovTOîvTO^ Kol 7rpoacaxop'€i>ov toc<; dfi^coai, KaOapco-

repov i7rXr]crla^€ tw o-TOfiari ro irLvofxevov. aiTio^

he Kal TovTcov 6 vo/io6eTrj<;' dTrrjWayfievoi yap oi

SrjpLovpyol tS)v d^r]aT(siv iv tol<; dvayKaLOi<:lirehelKvvvTo rrjv KaWirexviav,

X. "Eri he p.dWov eindeadai rrj rpvcp'p koX

TOV ^rjXov d(f>e\eadaL tov ttXovtov hiavorjOei^, to

TpiTOV TroXLTevfia kol koXXlcttov eTrrjye, Tr]v T03v

(TV(T<riTLcov KaTacr/cevyjv, waTe Seiirvelv pLCT dXXi]-Xcov GvvLovTa'i eTTL KoivoL<i KOL TeTaypîvoL^ 6'\]roi<;

KoX (riTLot<;, oXkov he p.rj 8t.atTdcrOai KaraKXivevTa^

eh (TTpcop^vd^ TToXuTeXeh kol Tpaweâ^, X^P'^''

B7jp.iovpya)v Kal pxiyeipcov virb o-k6to<;, wairep2 dB7](pdya ^wa, iriaLvofiivovi, koX hLa(f>6eipovTa^

ap.a Toh r}9eai, tcl adtpâTa irpo'^ irdaav eiridvpiav

dveipbiva kol 7rX7](Tpx>v7]v, pûKpcov piev vttpcov, 6ep-

p.(ov he XovTpcov, ttoXX^? he 'âv^^CL^ fccu TpoirovTLvd voarfXeLa^ Ka67)puepivr)ev7]v» pLeya p,ev ovv

Kal TOVTo Tji', puelfyv he to tov ttXovtov d^rjXov,

ft)9 (pTjai 0fcO(^/3a(7TO9, Kal dirXovrov direpyd-aaaOai Ty koivottjti twv heirrvwv Kal ttj irepi

3 T7]v hlaiTav evTeXeia. ^^prjcri? yap ovk rjv ovhe

diroXavaiî ovhe o-^c; oX&)? 77 eVtê/^f? t^9 ttoW^?irapaaKevY}*;, eirl to avTo helirvov tw TrevrfTi tov

irXovaiov âhiôvTO^' wo-re tovto hrj to OpvXov-

p,evov ev p>6vr) rcov vtto tov rjXiov iroXewv tj)

XirdpTy ^XiireaOaL, tv(1)Xov ovtu tov ttXovtov Ka)

^32

LYCURGUS, IX. 4-x. 3

for usefulness among soldiers in active service, as

Critias tells us. For its colour concealed the dis-

agreeable appearance of the water which they wereoften compelled to drink, and its curving lips caughtthe muddy sediment and held it inside, so that onlythe purer part reached the mouth of tlie drinker.

For all this they had to thank their lawgiver ; since

their artisans were now freed from useless tasks, and

displayed the beauty of their workmanship in objectsof constant and necessary use.

X. With a view to attack luxury still more andremove the thirst for wealth, he introduced his thu-d

and most requisite political device, namely, the

institution of common messes, so that they mighteat with one another in companies, of common and

specified foods, and not take their meals at home,reclining on costly couches at costly tables, deliver-

ing themselves into the hands of servants andcooks to be fattened in the dark, like voracious

animals, and ruining not only their characters butalso their bodies, by surrendering them to everydesire and all sorts of surfeit, which call for longsleeps, hot baths, abundant rest, and, as it were, daily

nursing and tending. This was surely a greatachievement, but it was a still greater one to makewealth "an object of no desire," as Theophrastussays, and even "

unwealth,"^by this community of

meals and simplicity of diet. For the rich man could

neither use nor enjoy nor even see or display his

abundant means, when he went to the same mealas the poor man ; so that it was in Sparta alone, of

all the cities under the sun, that men could have that

far-famed sight, a Plutus blind, and lying as lifeless

1 Cf Morale, p. 527 b.

233

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Keifi€vov cdCTirep ypa(j)r)v dy^v')(pv Kol aKivrjrov.

ovBk yap oXkoi TTpoSeiTrvrjaavTa'i i^rjv pahiêtviirX Th (Tvaairia ireTrXrjpcofjLevov;, aXX' eVf/ieXft)?

ol XoLirol 'Trapa<f)v\dTTOVT€<; rov firj irivovra fiijBe

icrOlovTa fier avrwv eKciKLôv 009 uKparrj Kal

irpo^ Tr)v KOLvrjv aTrofxaXaKLôfjuevov Blairav,

XI. Ato Kal fidXiard (paat tw AvKovpyw irpo^

TOVTO TO TToXirevp-a 'xâXeTrov'i yeveaOai rov^

ev7r6pov<;, Kal avardvTa'i iir avTov d9p6ov<; Ka-

Taôav Kal dyavaKTelv reXo^ Be âXXofievo^;VTTo ttoXXmv iÊTrecre t^<? dyopd<; Bpo/jbcp. Kal

rov<; fiev aXXov^; ecpOaaev €^'9 lepov Kara(f)vyQ)v'eh Be Tik(dv i7ricrTpa(j)evT0(; avrov rfj âKrrjpia ira-

2 Tafa9 rov o^daXjJLov eêKO'êv. 6 fiev ovv Av-

Kovpyo^ ovBev evBovfi 7r/oo9 to rrddo^, dXKcL ara^;

€vavTLO<; eBeiê T0fc9 iroXirai^ to irpocrcoirov rjfxay-

fiei'ov Kal BiecfiOapfMevrju Tr]V oyîv alB(jo<; Be iroXXr)

Kal Karrjcêia tol'9 iB6vTa<; ea-)(êv,wcrre irapaBov-

vai Tov "AXKavBpov avT& Kal Trpoirefi'ât, p^XP^Trj<; olKia<^ avvayavaKTOVvra'^. 6 Be AvKovpyo<;€K€Lvov<i p,ev eiraiveaaî a^r/zce, tov Be "AXKavBpovelaayayoov OLKaBe KaKov puev ovBev ovt eiroirâev

ovT elirev, diraXXdâ^ Be Toix; (jvvrjOei^ virrjpeTa^Kal 6epaTTevTrjpa AvKovpyrp Kal

avpBiaLTd)p,evo<; ev tS) KaTavoelv ttjv irpaorr^TaKal TO airaOe^ avTOv t^9 'yjrvxv'^

Kal to irepl

TTJV BiaLTav auaTTjpov kuI to 7rp6<i 701)9 novov^;

234

LYCURGUS, X. 3-xi. 3

and motionless as a picture. For the rich could not

even dine beforehand at home and then go to the

common mess with full stomachs, but the rest keptcareful watch of him who did not eat and drink with

them, and reviled him as a weakling, and one too

effeminate for the common diet.

XI. It was due, therefore, to this last politicaldevice above all, that the wealthy citizens wereincensed against Lycurgus, and banding togetheragainst him, denounced him publicly with angryshouts and cries ; finally many pelted him with stones,so that he ran from the market-place. He succeededin reaching sanctuary before the rest laid hands onhim ; but one young man, Alcander, otherwise nomean nature, but hasty and passionate, pressed hard

upon him, and as he turned about, smote him with

his staff and put out one of his eyes. Lycurgus,however, was far from yielding in consequence of

this calamity, but confronted his countrymen, andshowed them his face besmeared with blood and his

eye destroyed. Whereupon they were so filled withshame and sorrow at the sight, that they placedAlcander in his hands, and conducted him to his

house with sympathetic indignation. Lycurgus com-mended them for their conduct, and dismissed them,but took Alcander into the house with him, wherehe did the youth no harm by word or deed, but after

sending away his customary servants and attendants,ordered him to minister to his wants. The youth,who was of a noble disposition, did as he was com-

manded, without any words, and abiding thus with

Lycurgus, and sharing his daily life, he came to

know the gentleness of the man, the calmness of his

spirit, the rigid simplicity of his habits, and his

235

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aKafJLinov, avr6<; re Betv(o<; StereOrj irepX rov

avBpa, /cat 7r/3o? tov<; crwrjOeL^ Koi <î\ov<; eXeyev

0)9 ov o-KXrjpo^ ovB^ av6dB7)<i 6 AvKOvpyo^y aWa 46

4 ii6vo<; TjfjLepo^ koI Trpao^ iari TOL<i aXXoL<i. ovray

fxev ovv ovTo<; ifcCKoXaaTO Koi roiavTrjv v7r€(T)(^j]Ket

El/crjv, iic irovrjpov viov koX avddBov<; ififieXecrra-

T09 dvr)p Kol arcocfypoviKcoTarof; yevo/nevo*;. rov

Be irdOov'; VTTopvrjfia AvKOVpyo^; IBpvaaro Tr}<^

*A6r]va<; Upov, rjv ÔirTCklriv irpoorrjyopeva-e* tou?

yap 6^daXfiov(i 6'jttCXov<; ol rfjBe A(opceL<; KaXov-

Giv. evLOi fxevTOi rov AvKovpyov, o)v kol Aio-

cTKopCBrji; iarlv 6 (7VVT€Tayp.evo<; ryv AaKcoviKrjv

TToXiTeiav, TrXrjyrjvao fiiv (fiacTtv, ov TV(f>XcoOfjvai

Be rov 6(j)OaXfjL6v, dXXd Kal to lepov rf} Seat rrj^

dK€o-6co<; 'X^DLpiG-Trjpvov IBpvaacdai. to fievroi

(pepeiv paKTrjpiav 6KKXr)(rLdôvT6<; ol XTrapTidTai

puera rrjv (TvpL(ôpdv i/cetvrjv direpaOov.XII. Ta Be (Tvao-LTLa J^pijre^; jjuev dvBpela,

AaKeBaip,6viOL Be (fyiBiTLa nrpoaayopevovaiv, eire

ft)9 <j)iXLa<; Kal <îXo<fipo(Jvvq(; v7Tap)(^6vr(i)v, dvrl

rov X rb B Xap^dvovr€<;, etre ax; 7r/oo9 evreXetav

Kal (jyeiBco avveOiôvrayv. ovBev Be KcoXvei. Kal

rov Trpcorov e^(odev errLKeldOai (pOoyyov, ataTrep

eviob (jâacv, eBiriwv irapd rrjv Biairav Kal rijv

2 eB(uBr)v XeyopuevoDV. trvvrjpôvTO Be dvd TrevreKal-

BeKU Kal ^pa')(el rovrcov eXdrrovî ^ rrXeiov^;.

ecfyepe Be €Kaaro<i Kara p,rjva rwv avaalrcov dXcfyl-

rcov peBtpLvov, olvov %oa9 oktco, rvpov irevre pvd<!,

avKGJV r)p,ipvala irevre, irpo^ Be rovroiî et9 oyjrco-

viav pLLKpov ri KopuB^ voplarparo^, aXXco^ Be

236

I LYCURGUS, XI. 3-xii. 2

unwearied industry. He thus became a devoted

follower of Lycurgus^ and used to tell his intimates

and friends that the man was not harsh nor self-willed,

as he had supposed, but the mildest and gentlest of

them all. Such, then, was the chastisement of this

young man, and such the penalty laid upon him,

namely, to become, instead of a wild and impetuous

youth, a most decorous and discreet man. Lycurgus,moreover, in memory of his misfortune, built a templeto Athena Optilitis,so called from ^^optilus," which is

the local Doric word for eye. Some writers, however,of whom one is Dioscorides, who wrote a treatise onthe Spartan civil polity, say that although Lycurguswas struck in the eye, his eye was not blinded, but

he built the temple to the goddess as a thank-offeringfor its healing. Be that as it may, the Spartan

practice of carrying staves into their assemblies wasabandoned after this unfortunate accident.

XII. As for the public messes, the Cretans call them"andreia," but the Lacedaemonians,

"phiditia,"

either because they are conducive to friendship and

friendliness, "phiditia" being equivalent to^^

philitia"

;or because they accustom men to sim-

plicity and thriftJ for which their word is ^^pheido."But it is quite possible, as some say, that the first

letter of the word "phiditia" has been added to

it, making"phiditia

"out of "

editia," which refers

merely to meals and eating. They met in companiesof fifteen, a few more or less, and each one of the

mess-mates contributed montlily a bushel of barley-

meal, eight gallons of wine, five pounds of cheese,two and a half pounds of figs, and in addition to this,

a very small sum of money for such relishes as flesh

and fish. Besides this, whenever any one made a

VOL. I. T 237

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kol Ovaa<; Tt? aTrapxrjv Kal Or^pevaa^ iiepos

eire/JL-ylrev et? to arvaaiTLOv. e^rjv yap olkoc Bec-

TTveXv OTTore dvcra<; rt? 17 KVvr]ycov oyjrlaeie, tov^

3 Be akXov^ eBec irapelvaL. Kal fjiixp^ 7^ iroWov

ra? (TvadiTrjCTeL^ d/cpc/Sco^ 8i€(j)v\aTTOV, *'AycBo<i

yovv Tov l3aaik€0i)<;, 009 eiravqXdev airo rrj<; arpa-T€ia<; KaTaiTerr6kep.rjK(b<^

^

A6ijvaLov<i, /SovXo/jiivov

irapa rfj yvvaiici henrvelv kcli iieraTTefjLTToiJLevov

ra<i fieplBa^y ovk eireixâv ol TroXifuipxoii tov

Be fjLeO^ Tjfiepav vir* opyrjî /i^ OixravTO^ fjv eBei

Ovaiav, i^rjfibaxTav avTOV.

4 Et9 Be TO, avaaiTta /cat TratSe? i(f)oiT(ov, wairepet? BiBaaKaXeia aoxppoavi^rj^ dyofxevoi, Kal Xoycop

r)KpO(avTO ttoXltckcov Kal TraiSeura? iXevOepia^

ecopcov, avTOL tc iraiêtv elOiôvTO Kal aKcaTTTeiv

avev ficofjLoXox^cL'i Kal aKcoTTTOfievoi fjurj Bv(T)(€paL-

vecv. aôBpa yap iBoKet Kal tovto AaKoaviKov

elvai, (TKcofJLfiaTo^ aveyecQai' i^rj <êpovTa Be eîjp

5 irapaiTeladaii Kal 6 aKcoTrrcov iireTravTO. tSjp

S' elaLovTcov eKd(JT(p BeLâ<; 6 irpea^vraTO^s ra?

6vpa<;, "Aid tovtcov,*' î-jaiv,"

e^co X0709 ovk

eKTTopeveTai.^* BoKCfidêaOaL Be tov ôvXofxevovTOV avaatTLOV fieTaa'X'^lv ovtco (f)aaL, Xa/Bcop twvGrva-a-LTCOv 6KaaT0<; dirofiayBaXiav el<i ttjv xîpa,tov BiaKovov êpovTCi dyyelov eirl r^ Ke(ftaXrj<;,

eâXXe accoTrfj KaOdirep -yjrrjipov,6 fiev BoKi/jbd^cov

dirXa)^, 6 B' eKKpivoiv acpoSpa ttj %6^/ot 7rtecra9.

6 rj yap TreTneafievrj Tr]v tPj^ TeTprj/j.ej^7]<; e;)êtBv-

vafjLip. Kav filav evpcoaL TocavTr^p, ov irpoaBe-

238

LYCURGUS, XII. 2-6

sacrifice of first fruits, or brought home game from

the hunt, he sent a portion to his mess. For when-ever any one was belated by a sacrifice or the chase,he was allowed to sup at home, but the rest had to beat the mess. For a long time this custom of eatingat common mess-tables was rigidly observed. For

instance, when King Agis, on returning from an

expedition in which he had been victorious over the

Athenians, wished to sup at home with his wife, andsent for his rations, the polemarchs

^ refused to sendthem to him ; and when on the following day his

anger led him to omit the customary sacrifice, theylaid a fine upon him.

Boys also used to come to these public messes, as if

they were attending schools of sobriety ; there theywould listen to political discussions and see instructive

models of liberal breeding. There they themselvesalso became accustomed to sport and jest without

scurrility, and to endure jesting without displeasure.

Indeed, it seems to have been especially characteristic

of a Spartan to endure jesting ; but if any one couldnot bear up under it, he had only to ask it, and the

jester ceased. As each one came in, the eldest ofthe company pointed to the door and said to him :

"Through that door no word goes forth outside."

And they say that a candidate for membership in oneof these messes underwent the following ordeal. Eachof the mess-mates took in his hand a bit of soft bread,and when a servant came along with a bowl uponhis head, then they cast it into this without a word,like a ballot, leaving it just as it was if he approvedof the candidate, but if he disapproved, squeezingit tight in his hand first. For the flattened piece

* At Sparta, military commanders under the kings.

239

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Xovrai Tov iTreiaiovra, ôvXafievoi iravra^ 7)Bo-

fisvov; aWt]\oi<; cruvetvac. tov Be ovtco^ cltto-

BoKCfiao-divra KeKaBhiaOaL Xiyovar KdBBcxo<; yapKoXelrai, to ayyelov et? o ra? a'jTOâyBakia<i

ifjLâXXovai. toov Be oyfrcov evBoKLfiei /jLoXiara

Trap" avTot^ 6 fieXa<; ^cofi6<;y wcrre fjurjBe KpeaBuovBeladai roix; Trpecr^VTepov^;, aXXa irapaycopelvTot9 veavLu/cocf;, auTov<; Be tov ^co/jlov KaTayeo-

7 pêvov^ ecTTiaaOai. XeyeTai Be Ttva t(ov Uovtikoov

âcTLXecov eveKa tov ^copov /cat irpiaaOai Aa/cco-

VLKOV pdyetpov etra yevadpevov Bva')(êpavar koI

TOV pdyeipov elirelv"'11 jSaatXev, tovtov Bel tov

ô)pov ev T(p l^vpcoTO. XeXovpevov^ eTro-âaOai.^^

TTiovTe^ Be peTplcix^ diriaa-LBi')(â XapurdBo^. ov

yap eêaTL '7rpb<; ^W9 /3aBi!^€LV, ovre TavTrjv ovt€

dXXrjv oBoVy 07ro)9 iOi^wvTai <7k6tov<; KaX vvkto^

evOapaS)^ koX dBea)<; oBeveLV. to. fiev ovv avaai-

Tta TOiavTTjv e-yêi Taîv.

XIII. NoyLtou? Be yeypap,pAvov<; 6 AvKovpyo<; 47ov/c edrjfcev, aXXa pla tcov KaXovpevcov prjTpayv

ecTLV avTT), TO, pev yap /cvptcoTaTa koX pAyiaTa

Trpo<^ evBaipovlav irdXew^ koI dpCT^v, ev Tot<;

rjOecTtv cpeTO koI rat? dycayal^ tcov ttoXitojv

eyKaTeaToiX'^Lcopbeva, pAveiv aKivrjTa koI êâia,

eyovTa TTjv 7rpoaLp€(TLV Beapov layvpoTepov T779

dvdyKTi^y r\v r] nraiBevcn^; epLiroLel toI<; veoLîy vopuo-

OeTov BidOeaLv aTrepyaôpevrj irepX e/ca(TTov av-

2 T(av» TOL Be pLKpa xal yp7]p,aTL/cd av/iôXaia xal

240

u LYCURGUS, XII. 6-xiii. a

of bread had the force of a perforated, or negative,ballot. And if one such is found in the bowl, the

candidate is not admitted to the mess, because theywish all its members to be congenial. The candi-

date thus rejected is said to have been "caddished,"for " caddichus

" ^ is the name of the bowl into which

they cast the pieces of bread. Of their dishes, the

black broth is held in the highest esteem, so that the

elderlymen do not even ask for a bit of meat, but leave

it for the young men, while they themselves have the

broth poured out for their meals. And it is said that

one of the kings of Pontus actually bought a Spartancook for the sake of having this broth, and then, whenhe tasted it, disliked it ; whereupon the cook said :

" O King, those who relish this broth must first havebathed in the river Eurotas." After drinking mod-

erately, they go off home without a torch ; for theyare not allowed to walk with a light, either on this

or any other occasion, that they may accustom them-selves to marching boldly and without fear in the

darkness of night. Such, then, is the fashion of

their common messes.

XIII. None of his laws were put into writing byLycurgus, indeed, one of the so-called "rhetras"forbids it. For he thought that if the most import-ant and binding principles which conduce to the

prosperity and virtue of a city were implanted in the

habits and training of its citizens, they would remain

unchanged and secure, having a stronger bond than

compulsion in the fixed purposes imparted to the

young by education, which performs the office of a

law-giver for every one of them. And as for minor1 Or "caddos," from which the verb in the Greek text is

formed.

241

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

/jLeTairLTTTOVTa Ta2<; ^^peiac^; dWoTe dWco<;, /Sekriov

rjv fXT] KaraXa/jL^dvetv iy^pd<j>0L<; dvdyKac'; fjurjhe

dKLvrjTOL^; eOecTiv, aW' iav iirX rcov Katpcov, irpoa-

Oeaei^ XafjbjBdvovTa fcal dâLpeaei^, a? dv ol

ireTracBevfjievoi. hoKifidawai. to yap oXov koI

TTCLV T^9 vofwOeaia^ epyov eU rrjv TTaiheiav

dvrjyjre.

3 Mta /JL€V ovv ra>v prjrpcov rjv, wcrirep eiprjrai,

fjLT} XPW^^'' v6fioi<; e77/oa</)0i9. krepa he irdXiv

Kara t^9 TroXfreXeta?, ottg)? olKia irdaa ttjv fiev

6po(f)r]v diro TreXi/ceco^ elpyao-fxevi^v e^jj, Ta? Be

Ovpa<; diTO 7rpiovo<; fiovov koX fjbrjhevo^ rcov dXXcov

epyaXeicov. oirep yap vcrrepov ^K7ra/jL€tvcovSav el-

irelv Xeyovaiv eVl tjJ? eavrov Tpaire^7]<;, (h<; ro

roLOVTOv dpiarov ov X^P^^ TrpoBoauav, rovro nrpS)-

T09 ivoTjae Av/covpyo<;, ft)9 oiKia roiavTr] Tpv(j>rjv

4 ov %(xypei koX iroXvTeXeiav, ovS^ eariv ouBeh ovrw^

aTTeipoKaXo's fcal dvoi)TO<; wcrre 6t9 oi/ciav a<êX'^

Kal hjfMOTiKTjV elacpipeLV KXiva<; dpyvpoTroBa^; Kal

<7T/oa)yum9 dXovpyet^ Kal xP'^^d^; KvXL/ca<; Kal rrjv

T0VT0t<; kTTOjxevrjv TroXvTeXetav, aXV dvdyKrj avv-

apfioêadai Kal avveô/jLOLOvv rfj fxev olKia Tr)V

kXlvtjv, TTJ Be kXivt) rrjv eoSrjTa, ravrr} Be rrjv

5 dXXrjv 'XPpT^ylav Kal KaraaKevt'jv. eK Be ravTr)<;

rrj<i avvr)6eLa<; (j}aal Kal Aecorvx^'B' v rov irpecr^v-

repov ev ILopivOcp Benrvovvra, Kal Oeaadpuevov t^9

areyrjf; rov oikov rrjv KaraaKevrjv TToXvTeXr) Kal

(ârvwfJLariKrjv, ipcoTrjaat rov êvov el rerpdyayva

Trap avTOi<i rd ^vXa ^verai.

TpiTijv Be prjTpav Bia/jivrjfjuovevova-c rov AvKovp-yov, rrjv KcoXvovo-av inl tov<; avrov^ TToXe/uovf;

242

I LYCURGUS, XIII. 2-5

matters, such as business contracts, and cases wherethe needs vary from time to time, it was better, as he

thought, not to hamper them by written constraints

or fixed usages, but to suffer them, as occasion de-

manded, to receive such modifications as educated

men should determine. Indeed, he assigned the

function of law-making wholly and entirely to

education.

One of his rhetras accordingly, as I have said,

prohibited the use of written laws. Another was

directed against extravagance, ordaining that everyhouse should have its roof fashioned by the axe, and

its doors by the saw only, and by no other tool.

For, as in later times Epaminondas is reported to

have said at his own table, that such a meal did not

comport with treachery, so Lycurgus was the first to

see clearly that such a house does not comport with

luxury and extravagance. Nor is any man so vulgarand senseless as to introduce into a simple and commonhouse silver-footed couches, purple coverlets, gold

drinking-cups, and all the extravagance which goes

along with these, but one must of necessity adapt and

proportion his couch to his house, his coverlets to his

couch, and to this the rest of his supplies and equip-ment. It was because he was used to this simplicitythat Leotychides the Elder, as we are told, when he

was dining in Corinth, and saw the roof of the house

adorned with costly panellings, asked his host if trees

grew square in that country.

A third rhetra of Lycurgus is mentioned, which

forbids making frequent expeditions against the same

243

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

7roWdKi<;^ arpareveLV, Xva fir) iroXkaKi'^ afivve-

6 aOav (TvveOLôfxevoL iroXe/uLi/col yevcovrai,. koX tovto

76 fidXicTTa KaTrjyopovcTLV ÂyrjcTiXdov rod fiaai-

Xect)9 varepovy to? Tal<i avve^kai koI irvKvai^ eh

rrjv ÔLcoTLav €/iô\aL<; Koi (TTpaTeiai^ tov<; Srj-

l3abov<i dvTLTTuXov^; tol<; AaKeBaLfiovioiî Kara-

(TKevdaavTo^, hio koi rerpco/Jievov avrbv ISodv

^KvTakKiha^y"KaXa/* €(^r},

'* ra SiSaa/cdXta irapa

@7;/3ata)y diToXafi^dvei'^, fxi] fiov\o[Jbevov<; avrov^

fiTjSe etSora? pdêa-OaL ^tSaâ?.'* ra p,ev ovv tol-

avra vopoOerijp^Ta prjTpa<; wvopaorev, <09 irapaTov Oeov Kop.t,^6fi€va

^/cat xpV^f^^^^ ovra.

XIV. T?}? Se 7rai8€ia<;, rjv p,iycaTov rjyetro tov

vopôOerov koX KdXKiarov epyov elvat, iroppcoOev

dp')(pp,evo's €vdv^ iirecTKOTreL rcL irepX tou<; ydp,ov<;

Kol ra<; yevea€i<;. ov ydp, co? 'A/ota-roreX?;? ^r)(Tiv,

i'in'Xêipri(Ta<; o-axftpovi^cLV ra? yvvaiKa<i, iiTavaaro

p,7j tcparcbv T»)? 7roX\rj<; dvecrew^ koi yvvaiKOKpa-Tta? hia TCi^ TToXKa^ (TrpaTeia^ ra>v dvBpcov, iv

ah TjvayKdôvro KvpLa<; dTroXeuTreiv eKeiva^y koI

Sid TOVTO puaWov tov TrpoaTj/covTO^ avTd<; iOepd-Trevov Kal Seairoiva^ Trpocrrjyopevoir dWd Kal

TovTcov T7]v evhe')(ppievr}v i'mp.ekeLav eiroLi](TaTO.

2 ra pAv ye adopuaTa tcov Trapdevcov Bp6p,oi<; Kal

TTaXat? KaX ôXah Blo-kcov Kal dKOVTieov Bieirovrj-

<Tev, 0)9 7] T€ Tft)i^ yevv(i)puev(ov pi^wai,^ la-)(vpdv iv

iax^poh crcopLaaiv dpxv^ \apova-a ffXaaTavoi^ iroWaKis inserted before (Trpareveiv to agree with Morals,

p. 227 c ; vo\f/J.iovs arpanveip.2

KoixiC6ix€va Cobet, adopting the conjecture of Sintenis'* :

rofxiC6fi*ya {were believed to come).

244

LYCURGUS, xiii. 5-xiv. 2

enemies, in order not to accustom such enemies to

frequent defence of themselves, which would makethem warlike. And this was the special grievancewhich they had against King Agesilaiis in later times,

namely, that by his continual and frequent incursions

and expeditions into Boeotia he rendered the Thebansa match for the Lacedaemonians. And therefore,when Antalcidas saw the king wounded, he said :

"This is a fine tuition-fee which thou art gettingfrom the Thebans, for teaching them how to fight,when they did not wish to do it, and did not knowhow." Such ordinances as these were called "rhetras"

by Lycurgus, implying that they came from the godand were oracles.

XIV. In the matter of education, which he

regarded as the greatest and noblest task of the

law-giver, he began at the very source, by carefully

regulating marriages and births. For it is not true

that, as Aristotle says,^ he tried to bring the womenunder proper restraint, but desisted, because hecould not overcome the great licence and powerwhich the women enjoyed on account of the manyexpeditions in which their husbands were engaged.During these the men w^ere indeed obliged to leave

their wives in sole control at home, and for this

reason paid them greater deference than was their

due, and gave them the title of Mistress. But evento the women Lycurgus paid all possible atten-

tion. He made the maidens exercise their bodies in

running, wrestling, casting the discus, and hurlingthe javelin, in order that the fruit of their wombsmight have vigorous root in vigorous bodies andcome to better maturity, and that they themselves

» Pol, ii. 6, 8.

245

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

jSeXriov, avrai re jjierh pco/jL7j(; tov? t6kov<; vtto-

fxevovcrai Ka\M<; afia koI paSLco<; dycovLôivro tt/jo?

ra? oohcvaf;. acfyeXoov Be Opv^LV koX <r/€iaTpa(j)iavfcal drjXvrrjra iraaav ovBev r)TTov eWio-e tmv

Kopcov Ta9 Kopa^ yvfJLvd<; re iropbTreveiv Kal 7rpo<; 48

iepo2^ Tcaiv 6p)(^6L<Tdai koI dheiv rcov vicov irapov-3 TWV Koi 66(0/jL€V(OV. eCTTl 0€ OTC Kal (TKCOflfMaTa

Xiyovaai 7rpo9 e/caarov ev^pV^T^'^ eTreXafxjSd-vovTO Tcov d/jLapTavofiivcov /cal irdXiv et9 tou9

d^LOV<; avTMV iy/ccofiia /ner a>Brj<; TreTroirj/xeva Bie^-

lovcrat, (jyiXoTLfJiiav iroXXrjv /cal ^rjXov iveiroiovv

Toi9 veavi(TKOi<^. 6 yap iyKWfxiaa9el<; iir* dvBpa-

yaOia Kal kX€ivo<; ev Tat<; TrapOevoi,^ yeyovoo<^

dmrjei fieyaXwofievoî viro tcov iiraivoov at Be

fierd TTacBcd'i Kal <TKQ)/jLfidT(ov B^êL^ ovBev dfi-

jSXvrepai, tcov fjuerd (nrovBrjfi vovderrffidrcov rjcrav,

are Br) 7r/D09 rrjv Oeav o/jlov T0t9 dXXoi<; •noXlrai';

Kal TCOV /SacnXecov Kal tcov yepovTcov crv/xiropevo-

fievcov,

4 'H Be yv/nvcocTt^ tcov irapOevcov ovBev alcr^pov

el'xev, alBov<; /nev irapovar)';, aKpacria^ Be dirovarfîy

dXX iOtcr/jLOV dêXrj Kal ^rjXov eve^la'i eveipydêTO,Kal (f)pov^/JLaTO<; to OrjXv irapeyevev ovk dyevvov<i,

C09 fJir}B€V ^TTOV avTcp Kal dpeTTj^ Kal (faXoTifjiiaf:

fieTovaiav ovcrav. o6ev avTal<; Kal Xeyeiv eirrjei

Kal cj)poveLv ola Kal irepl Vofyyov^ lo-ToprjTat, t^9AecoviBou yvvaiKo<^. elirova-f)^ yap two^^ a)<; eotKe,

êv7}<; Trpbg avTr)v ct)9" Movai, tmv dvBpwv apêre

vjjbel'^ at KaKaivair" Moiât ydp^ 60^,

"tLktoijl€v

dvBpa<;"XV. 'Hz/ fiev ovv Kal TavTa irapopfirjTtKa 7rpo<;

ydfwv Xeyco Be tA9 7ro/jL7rd<; tcov irapdevcov Kal

246

LYCURGUS, XIV. 2-xv. i

might come with vigour to the fulness of their times,and struggle successfully and easily with the pangsof child-birth. He freed them from softness and

delicacy and all effeminacy by accustoming the

maidens no less than the youths to wear tunics onlyin processions, and at certain festivals to dance and

sing when the young men were present as spectatorsThere they sometimes even mocked and railed good-

naturedly at any youth who had misbehaved himself ;

and again they would sing the praises of those whohad shown themselves worthy, and so inspire the

young men with great ambition and ardour. For hewho was thus extolled for his valour and held in

honour among the maidens, went away exalted bytheir praises ; while the sting of their playful raillerywas no less sharp than that of serious admonitions,

especially as the kings and senators, together withthe rest of the citizens, were all present at the

spectacle.Nor was there anything disgraceful in this scant

clothing of the maidens, for modesty attended them,and wantonness was banished ; nay, rather, it pro-duced in them habits of simplicity and an ardentdesire for health and beauty of body. It gave also

to woman-kind a taste of lofty sentiment, for theyfelt that they too had a place in the arena of braveryand ambition. Wherefore they were led to thinkand speak as Gorgo, the wife of Leonidas, is said to

have done. When some foreign woman, as it would

seem, said to her :" You Spartan women are the

only ones who rule their men," she answered :"Yes,

we are the only ones that give birth to men."XV. Moreover, there were incentives to marriage

in these things,—I mean such things as the appeai-

247

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Ta9 cLTroZvcrei^ xal tou? aycova<; iv6'sjreL

rwv veeov,

ajofievcov ov yecofierpLKai^, aX>C ipcoriKaU, w?

(j>r]aiv 6 TlXdrcov, dvdyKaL<;' ov fxi^v dXka Kol

CLTLfdav Tiva irpoaeOrjKe rot^ dydfiotf;. etpyovro

yap iv raif; yvfivoTraiBlai^ t^9 6ia<;' rov Be 'xei-

fia>vo<; ol fjLev dpôvre^ avrov^ cKekevov iv kvkXco

2 yvfivov(; irepuevaL rrjv dyopdv, ol Be Trepuovief;

fjBov eU avTOvf; (pBrjv riva ire'irotTjfievrjv, eo? BUaia

nrdoT'xôiev, on roh vofiOL^; dtreiOovcn'Tt,fjLrj<;

Be fcal

Oepaireia^ rjv veoi irpeapvTepoLî rnrapecxov, iare-

prjVTO, oOev /cal to 7rpo<i AepKvWlBav prjOev ovBel*;

ifiejjLyJraro, Kaiirep evBoKipuov ovra arparrjyov.

eTTiovTi yap avrw rSiv vecorepcov tl<; eBpa<: ov^

viretêvy elirwv," OvBe yap ifjuol av rov vrreiôvra

yeyevvr]Ka<;J*

3 ^Kydjjbovv Be Bl dpirayrjf;, ov fiiKpa^ ovBe

dwpov^ 7rpo<; ydfiovy dWd kcli dKfxaôv(Ta<; Ka\

7T€7re[pov<;. ttjv Be dpiraaOelaav rj vvjiKpevrpia

KaXovfjLevT) TrapaXaôvo-a, ttjv fiev Ke<f>aX7)v iv

'^pw irepLerceipev, IpLaTitp Be dvBpeiw Kal viroBrjiML-

atv iv(7K€vdaaaa Kare/cXivev iirl arifidBa fjLovrjv

dvev (pcoTo^, 6 Be vvfiîo^ ov fieOixov ovBe Opv-

7rT6/JLevo<;, dXXa v^cfxav, coairep del, BeBeiTTvrjKox; iv

TOi<: (fnBiTLOt<;, TrapeLaeXOoov eXve rr^v ^(ovyv Kal

248

LYCURGUS, XV. 1-3

ance of the maidens without much clothing in pro-cessions and athletic contests where young men were

looking on, for these were drawn on by necessity," not

geometrical, but the sort of necessity which lovers

know," as Plato says.^ Nor was this all ; Lycurgusalso put a kind of public stigma upon confirmed

bachelors. They were excluded from the sight of

the young men and maidens at their exercises, andin winter the magistrates ordered them to marchround the market-place in their tunics only, and as

they marched, they sang a certain song about them-

selves, and its burden was that they were justly

punished for disobeying the laws. Besides this, theywere deprived of the honour and gracious attentions

which the young men habitually paid to their elders.

Therefore there was no one to find fault with whatwas said to Dercyllidas, reputable general though hewas. As he entered a company, namely, one of the

younger men would not offer him his seat, but said :

"Indeed, thou hast begotten no son who will one

day give his seat to me."For their marriages the women were carried off

by force, not when they were small and unfit for

wedlock, but when they were in full bloom and

wholly ripe. After the woman was thus carried off,

the bride's-maid, so called, took her in charge, cut

her hair off close to the head, put a man's cloak andsandals on her, and laid her down on a pallet, on the

floor, alone, in the dark. Then the bride-groom,not flown with wine nor enfeebled by excesses, but

composed and sober, after supping at his public mess-table as usual, slipped stealthily into the room whereth« bride lay, loosed her virgin's zone, and bore her

*Bepublict p. 458 d.

249

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 fJLerrjve'yKev dpdfjLevo^ iirl rtjv kXIvt^v. a-vvBiarpi-

yjraî Be XP^^^v ou ttoXvv dirrjei Kocrfiico^ ovirepelcoOei TO TTporepov, KadevSrjcrcop /lerd rcoi/ aWwvvewv, fcal to Xoittov ovtw^ eirpaTTe, roi? jxev

'^XifcccoTaif; avvBcrj/jLepevcov koI avvavairavopievo^t

TTpo^ Be TTjv vv/JL<j)7]v Kpvû p,eT evXaêla^ 0oiTa)i^,

al<T)(^vv6fJLepo<; kclI BeBotKO)^ purj tl^ ataOoiTO twv

evBov, ajjua fcal Trjf; vv/ji<j)7}^ iiTLTexi^fOfJLevrjf; Koi

crvvev7ropovar](; otto)? av ev /cacpo) Kal \avOdi'ovTe<;

5 dXX,T]\oL<; avjJbiTopevoivTo. kcli tovto eirpaTTov ovk

oXlyov pôiôj^, a)OC coaTC Kol iralBa'; ryeveadai

evioL^ TTplv 69 'qp.epav Oedaaadai Ta^ eavTcov

yvvaiKa^;. rj Be TOiavTr) crvvoBo<; ov fiovov iyKpa-Tela^ Kol o-co(j)po(Tvvr]^ da/crjatf; rfv^ dXKa toU t€

acojMLai. yovifiovf; koI tco (piXelv del Kaivov<; Kal

7rpo(7<j>dTOV<; rjyev eirl Tr]v KOLV(oviav» ou BcaKopeUovB^ e^LTrjXov<; Toit; dveBrjv KOivayvlai^y dXX^ del

TL Xei^lravov kol vireKKavfia ttoOov kol âptro?evairoXeiiTovTa^; dXXrjXoi^.

6 ôaavTTjv Be T0t<; ydfioi^ eTnaTrjaa^; alBw Kal 49

Ta^LVy ovBev r]TTOV eêjSaXe Tr]v Kevrjv Kal yv-

vaLKCoBr] ^rjXoTviriaVy ev KaXSt KaraaTTjaa^; vffpcv

fiev Kal dvaîav irdaav ecpjeiv diro tou yd/juov,

TralBcov Be Kal TeKV(oa-eco<i Koivcovelv rot? d^loifi,

KaTayeXcovTa<; tcov w? d/xiKTa Kal dKoivcovrjTa

7 TavTa fieTLovTcov câyal^ Kal 7roXefioL<;. e^rjv

fjuev yap dvBpl irpeafivTepw vea<; yvvaiKo^, el Br]

TLva tS)v KaXcbv Kal dya6o)v dairdaaiTO vewv Kal

BoKifidaeiev, elaayayeiv Trap* avTi]v Kal irX'^-

aavTa yevvaiov aireppMro^ IBiov avTol<i iroirj-

250

LYCURGUS, XV. 4-7

ill his arms to the marriage-bed. Then^ after spend-

ing a short time with his bride, he went awaycomposedly to his usual quarters, there to sleep with

the other young men. And so he continued to dofrom that time on, spending his days with his com-

rades, and sleeping with them at night, but visitinghis bride by stealth and with every precaution, full

of dread and fear lest any of her household should

be aware of his visits, his bride also contriving and

conspiring with him that they might have stolen

interviews as occasion offered. And this they did

not for a short time only, but long enough for someof them to become fathers before they had looked

upon their own wives by daylight. Such interviews

not only brought into exercise self-restraint and

moderation, but united husbands and wives whentheir bodies were full of creative energy and their

affections new and fresh, not when they were sated

and dulled by unrestricted intercourse ;and there

was always left behind in their hearts some residual

spark of mutual longing and delight.After giving marriage such traits of reserve and

decorum, he none the less freed men from the emptyand womanish passion of jealous possession, by mak-

ing it honourable for them, while keeping the

marriage relation free from all wanton irregularities,to share with other worthy men in the begetting of

children, laughing to scorn those who regard suchcommon privileges as intolerable, and resort to

murder and war rather than grant them. For

example, an elderly man with a young wife, if helooked with favour and esteem on some fair andnoble young man, might introduce him to her, and

adopt her offspring by such a noble father as his

251

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aaaOai to yevvrjOev. i^rjv Se irdXiv avhpi XPV-CTTO), Tcbv €VT€KVCOV TLVCL Kol CTftJ^pOZ/O)!/ OaV/Jbd-

(TavTL yvvcLiKWV eT6p(p ry6yafMr]fjL6V7jv, irela-aL top

dvSpa crvvekOelvy coo-rrep iv %w/3a KaWiKapirw^VTevovTa Kal iroLOv/jLevov Tralha<i drâOov^y dya-

8 6o)v 6/jLaLfiou(; /cal avyyev€t<; iao/jiivovf;, irptoTOv

[lev yap ovk 18lov<; rjyelTO Tchv iraTepwv TOVov ivedopa tol<; irepX

TavTa T(ov dWcov vo/jLodeTjjfiaaiv, oi /cvva<i fiev

KoX Ilttttov^ vtto T0t9 KpaTL<TT0L^ Tcov 6')(eiwv

fiiffdôvat, ')(^dpLTL ireiOovTe^ rj fiiaOw tov<; kv-

piovfiy ra? Se yvvaiKa^ iyKkeiadfievot ^povpovaiv,

6^ avTMV fiovayv tIktclv d^covvTe';, Kav d^pove^;

9 wai, icdv Trapr]KiK€.<^y kolv voacoSet^;, co? ou;^t Trpco-

TOt? Tot<; K€KTr)fievoi<; Kal Tpicf) overt twv iralBoyv

ytvo/iivcov '7rovr]pa)V, edv €k TTOvrjpclyv yevcovTai,

Kal TOvvavTLOv '^(prjaTCJV, dp TOiavTri^ Tvôacn

yevecreo)^. tuvtu Be ovtco^ irpaTTOfiepa (j)V(TiKa)<i

Kal TToXtTCKOOî t6t€ TOaOVTOP dTTelê T7J<; VCTTepOP

\eyojj,6Pr)<; yepeaOai irepl Ta9 yvpaLKa<; ev'xepeiaî

WGT€ oXft)9 dinaTOV elvav to t^9 fjLOLXîa<; Trap*

10 avTOL<;. Kal \6yo<; diropbprîiopeveTai TepdSa tlpo^

îrapTidTOV tcop acpoSpa iraXaiMP, 09 ipcoTrfdeU

VTTO ^€Pov TL TTad'Xpvaip 01/JLOL)(ôl Trap' aVT0L<i,

252

LYCURGUS, XV. 7-10

own. And again, a worthy man who admired somewoman for the fine children that she bore herhusband and the modesty of her behaviour as a wife,

might enjoy her favours, if her husband would con-

sent, thus planting, as it were, in a soil of beautiful

fruitage, and begetting for himself noble sons, whowould have the blood of noble men in their veins.

For in the first place, Lycurgus did not regard sons

as the peculiar property of their fathers, but rather as

the common property of the state, and therefore

K'ould not have his citizens spring from random

parentage, but from the best there was. In the

second place, he saw much folly and vanity in whatother peoples enacted for the regulation of these

matters ; in the breeding of dogs and horses theyinsist on having the best sires which money or

favour can secure, but they keep their wives underlock and key, demanding that they have children bynone but themselves, even though they be foolish, or

infirm, or diseased ; as though children of bad stock

did not show their badness to those first whopossessed and reared them, and children of goodstock, contrariwise, their gryodness. The freedomwhich thus prevailed at that time in marriagerelations was aimed at phj'^sical and political well-

being, and was far removed from the licentiousness

which was afterwards attributed to their women,so much so that adultery was wholly unknownamong them. And a saying is reported of one

Geradas,^ a Spartan of very ancient type, who, on

being asked by a stranger what the punishmentfor adulterers was among them, answered : "Stranger,

^ The name is Geradataa in Morals, p. 228 c {Apophtheg.Lacon^ 20).

253

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eiTTev "*11 êv6, ovSeU yiverai, fioix^'i Trap* r/fuv^*

ifceU'OV Be VTroXafiovTO^,**

'Eai/ ovv fyeinirai;^

"TavpoVy^ €cf>7)6 FepdBai;,

"eKrlvei pikyav, 09

VTrepKvyjraq to Tavyerov airo rod Eupcora TrUrai"

OavjidaavTO^ B* i/celvov koX <f>7]aavT0(i'"

Ilaj? Se

av yevoiTO l3ovr],

"iv ^TrdpTT} //,ot;ô9 yevoiro;^^

ravra fieu ovv laroprjTac irepl twv ydficov.

XVI. To Be yevv7]0ev ovk rjv KvpLo<; 6 yevvrjaa^

Tpe(f>eLVy dX}C ecêpe \a^0DV eU roirov tivcl \k-

(JX")^ KcCKovyievoVy ev o5 Ka6r]\xevoi twv cj^vXercop

ol irpea^vraTOL KarapLaOovre^ to TracBdpwv, el

fiev evTrayeî elr) koX pcopiaXeov, rpecfyetv eKekevov,

Kkrjpov avTw tcov evaKL(T')(^L\iwv irpoaveLpbavre^*el B* dyevve^ /cat dpLop<ôv, aTreirepLiTov eh ra^

XeyopLeva^; 'AvroêTa?, Trapa Taiiyerov âpaOpco-2 Bt) TOTTOVy ft)? ovT€ avT(p ^7)v dfieLvov ov ^ ovre

TTJ TToXei TO fir) KaX(o<; €v6v<} e'f «/3X% tt/oo?

eueîav kol pco/iirjv Trecpv/co^;. odev ovBe vBaTLTO,

/3pe(j>rf, a\V otvo) TrepteXovov at yvvaLK€<i,

jSdaavov TLva iroLovpevai T7J<f Kpdaeoa^ avTcov.

XeyeTai yap eîcTTacrOaL to, einXrjTrTCKa xal vo-

acoBr] TT/Do? TOP UKpuTOv dTroacfyaKeXlôvTa, to, B*

vytetva jxaXXov cTTopbOvaOai kuI Kparvveadai ttjv

3 e^LV. Tjv Be irepl ra? rpoôv<; i'mp.eXeid tl<; p.€TcL

Te')(yrj<^yoxtt dvev aTrapydvcov eKTpe(ôvaa<; to.

fipe<f>rj TOt? fieXecn koI toI<; e'lBeaiv eXevOepiairoielv, en Be eufcoXa rat? BLaLTai<i kol da-LK\aKoX d0ap.j3P] aKOTOV koI 7rpb<; eprjixiav d(f)offa Koi

^ %v supplied by van Herwerden : ^.ûvov oUrt,

254

I* LYCURGUS, XV. to-xvi. 3

there is no adulterer among us." "Suppose, then,"

repHed the stranger," there should be one." '* A

bull," said Geradas, "would be his forfeit, a bull so

large that it could stretch over Mount Taygetus anddrink from the river Eurotas." Then the stranger was

astonished and said : "But how could there be a bull

so large ?*' To which Geradas replied, with a smile :

"But how could there be an adulterer in Sparta?"Such, then, are the accounts we find of their marriages.XVI. Offspring was not reared at the will of the

father, but was taken and carried by him to a placecalled Lesche, where the elders of the tribes

officially examined the infant, and if it was well-

built and sturdy, they ordered the father to rear it,

and assigned it one of the nine thousand lots of

land ; but if it was ill-born and deformed, theysent it to the so-called Apothetae, a chasm-hke

place at the foot of Mount Taygetus, in the conviction

that the life of that which nature had not well

equipped at the very beginning for health and

strength, was of no advantage either to itself or the

state. On the same principle, the women used to

bathe their new-born babes not with water, butwith wine, thus making a sort of test of their con-

stitutions. For it is said that epileptic and sicklyinfants are thrown into convulsions by the strongwine and loose their senses, while the healthy ones

are rather tempered by it, like steel, and given a

firm habit of body. Their nurses, too, exercised

great care and skill ; they reared infants without

swaddling-bands, and thus left their limbs and figuresfree to develop ; besides, they taught them to becontented and happy, not dainty about their food,nor fearful of the dark, nor afraid to be left alone,

•55

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

anreipa 8v(TKo\La<; ayevvov<; Koi KXavOfivpio-/j.S)v.

Slo kol ra>v 6^0}9ev evioi roh TeKvoL<; AaKcoviKa<;

i(ovovvTO TfcTâ?' Kal ttJv ye top^

XSrjvalov

Â\Ki/3t,d8r}v TLrOevcraaav ÂfivKXav laropovcn

yeyovevaL AaKaivav.

4 'AWa TOUTco jjLeVy 0)9 TiXdroiv ^râi, Zooirvpov

iTricTTTjae TratSaycoyov HeptKXrj^, ovSev rt rwvaXXtov BtacpepoPTa SovXcov tol;? Be XTrapriaTcov 50

TratSa? ovk eTrl wvrjTOLf; ovBe /jLicrdi,oi,<i eTrotyjcraro

iraiBaycoyolf} 6 AvKovpyo^;, ovS* e^rfv eKaarcp

Tpicpecv ov8e iraiBeveiv ax; ifiovXero rbv uiov,

dXXa irdvTa^ €v6vov<; /jlct* dXXrjXcov5 ecOtê avfiTraiêtv koI (TV(T')(pXdêLV. dp')(ôvTa 3*

avTOL<; TrapLararo tt}? dyeXrjf; rbv to) ^povelv

hiaêpovTa Kal OvfioeiBecTTaTov iv tS> /xd'^êadarKOL 7rpb<; TOVTOV d(êa)p(ov koI TrpodrdTTovrofi

rjKpoSiVTO KoX /coXdôpTo<; eKaprepovv, ware rrjv

TraiBeiav elvai /jLeXerrjv ev7reiO€ia<;. iireaKOTTovv

he ol TTpea^vrepoL Traiôvra'^ avrov^;, Kal rdiroXS-a

iJLd')(â^ Ti,vd<; efil3dXXovre<; del Kal cJ)lXo-

veiKia^, ov 7rapepy(o<i Kare/jidvOavov oirolo^ eari

rr)v <^v(TLv e/cacTTo? avroiv tt/ô? to ToXfidv Kal

fiT] cj)vyofJLaxeLV iv rah d/jLiXXaL<!.

6 VpdfjLpbara fiev ovv eveKa ri]^ ')(^peia<^ ifidvOavov

rjS' oXXtj irdcra TraiBeia irpb<i rb apxecrOai AraXw?

iyivero Kal Kaprepeiv irovovvra Kal vtKavfia'^^ô-

fievov. Bib Kal ttj^; rjXiKia<; Trpoepxofieprjf; eVe-

reivov avTuw ttjv do-KrjaLv, iv ^^ re KeipovTe^

«56

LYCURGUS, XVI. 3-6

nor given to contemptible peevishness and whim-

pering. This is the reason why foreigners sometimes

bought Spartan nurses for their children. Amycla,for instance, the nurse of the Athenian Alcibiades,is said to have been a Spartan.

^

And yet Alcibiades, as Plato says,^ had for a tutor,

set over him by Pericles, one Zopyrus, who was justa common slave. But Lycurgus would not put the sons

of Spartans in charge of purchased or hired tutors,

nor was it lawful for every father to rear or train his

son as he pleased, but as soon as they were seven

years old, Lycurgus ordered them all to be taken bythe state and enrolled in companies, where they were

put under the same discipline and nurture, andso became accustomed to share one another's sportsand studies. The boy who excelled in judgementand was most courageous in fighting, was madecaptain of his company ; on him the rest all kepttheir eyes, obeying his orders, and submitting to

his punishments, so that their boyish training was a

practice of obedience. Besides, the elderly menused to watch their sports, and by ever and anon

egging them on to mimic battles and disputes, learned

accurately how each one of them was naturally dis-

posed when it was a question of boldness and aggres-siveness in their struggles.Of reading and writing, they learned only enough

to serve their turn;

all the rest of their training wascalculated to make them obey commands well, en-

dure hardships, and conquer in battle. Therefore,as they grew in age, their bodily exercise wasincreased ; their heads were close-clipped, and they

* Cf. Alcibiades, i. 2.^ Alcibiades i. p. 122 b.

257

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kol âhiteiv avvTroBrjrovf; iraLêiv T€ jvfivov^ o)?

rh TToWa avveOiôvre^. 'yevoixevoi Se Sa)8e/caeTet9

avev ')(^LTO}vo^ ijSrj SiereXovv, ev Ifidrcov et? tov

eviavTov \a/jL0dvovr€<;, avxi^VP^^^ ''"^ crcofiaTa Kal

\ovTpa)V Kal dXetfjifidTcov aTretpor irkrjv oXiya^

yfiipa'i TLva^ rov iviavrov Trj<; roLavrrj^; <f>Ckav-

7 6pco7ria<; pbeT6l)(ov. eKaOevhov Se ofiov icar TXi]v

Kal djeXrjv iirl cm^dBcov, a? avrol^ crvvecpopovv,

TOV irapa tov ^vpcoTav Treû/foro? Kokdfiov to,

CLKpa Tat? yêpalv avev aihrjpov KaTaK\daavT€<;.

iv Se Tw yeiyioivi tov<^ Xeyofievov^ \vK6ôva<s

vire/SdWovTO Kal KaTefiiyvvaav Tal<i (TTL^dcn,

depjMivTLKOv exîv tl ttj^ vKt)^ BoKovarj^.

XVII. "llSri Be Toh TTjXiKovToi^ ipaaTal t&v

evSoKifjLcov vecov avvaveaTpeôvTO' Kal Trpocrelxov

ol irpea^vTepoL, Kal fiaXkov i7rL^0CT(0VTe<; elg to,

yvjjbvda-ta, Kal/jLa')(ôfjbevoi,^

Kal o-kcotttovo-lv oXXt]-

\ov(; TrapaTvyx^^^^'^^^* ^^ 7rapepyQ)<;, dXXh Tpo-Tov Tiva TrdvTe^ olopêvov rrdvTcov Kal iraTepe^;

elvac Kal TratBaycoyol Kal ap')(ovT€<;, wcrre fi'^Tc

Kaipov diroXei'TTeaOab fjbrjTe ')(ci)piov eprj/xov tov

vov6eTOvvTO<; tov dfiaprdvovTa Kal KoXdôvTO<;.2 ov jxrjv dXXa Kal Traihovopbof; ck tcov koXcov Kal

dyaOwv dvhpoiv iTdTTCTO, Kal Kar dyeXa<; avTol

irpotcTTavTO tmv Xeyo/ievcov elpevcov del tov aco-

(ppoveaTaTov Kal pa'î/j^coTaTov. etpeva^ Be Ka-

Xovai Tov<; eTO^ i^Br) hevTepov Ik TralBcov yeyovo-Ta'^, fjLeXX€Lpeva<; Be tcov TraiBwv tov<; irpecr^vTa-TOV9. 0UT09 ovv 6 etprjv^ ecKocrt eTf] yeyovdx;, dp'êiTe TCOV VTTOTeTayfievcDJ iy val<i fidâi^, Kal KaT

=58

w LYCURGUS, XVI. 6-xvii. 2

were accustomed to going bare-foot, and to playingfor the most part without clothes. When they weretwelve years old, they no longer had tunics to wear,received one cloak a year, had hard, dry flesh, andknew little of baths and ointments ; only on certain

days of the year, and few at that, did they indulgein such amenities. They slept together, in troopsand companies, on pallet-beds which they collected

for themselves, breaking off with their hands—noknives allowed—the tops of the rushes which grewalong the river Eurotas. In the winter-time, theyadded to the stuff of these pallets the so-called

^^ycophon," or thislle-down, which was thought to

have warmth in it.

XVII. When the boys reached this age, they werefavoured with the society of lovers from among the

reputable young men. The elderly men also keptclose watch of them, coming more frequently to their

places of exercise, and observing their contests of

strength and wit, not cursorily, but with the idea

that they were all in a sense the fathers and tutors

and governors of all the boys. In this way, at every fit-

ting time and in every place, the boy who went wronghad someone to admonish and chastise him. Norwas this all

;one of the noblest and best men of the

city was appointed paedonome, or inspector of the

boys, and under his directions the boys, in their

several companies, put themselves under the com-mand of the most prudent and warlike of the so-

called Eirens. This was the name given to those

who had been for two years out of the class of boys,and Melleirens, or Would-be Eirens, was the namefor the oldest of the boys. This eiren, then, a youthof twenty years, commands his subordinates in their

259

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 oIkov vTTTjperai'; ^/O^Jrat 7rpo9 to BeoTrvov. ctti-

Taaaei Se T0i9 yêi' ahpol^; ^vXa <f)€peiv, rot? Be

jjLiKpOTepoiî Xayava, /cal (pepouat /cXe7^T0^•T69,

ol fjuev eVt Toiff; Krj7rov<; /3aoiôvT6<i, ol Be eh rarcov avBpcov avaaurca Trapetcrpeovre^ ev jMoKa

iiavovp'^ldd^ KcCi Tre^vXayfjLev (!)<;' av S^ dXa), ttoX-

Xa-9 Xa/ijSdveL 7r\r]yd<; ry fidarijc, paOvfjico<; Bokcjv

KXeirreiv /cal dreyvw^. KXiirrovcn Be koI tmvaiTLCov o Ti av ovv(OVTai» ixavOdvovre^; e\j(j)vw<;

eTnTiOeadai toI^ /caOevBovaiv rj padvfjLax^ (f)vXdr-4 Tovai, T& Be aXovri ^rj/nCa irXrj'yal Kal to irei,-

vrjv. ryXlaxpov yap avTo'i<; earc Belirvov, oVo)?

Bl avrcov d/jLvvofievoi, ttjv evBeiav dvayKa^covrat

ToXfjbdv Kal Tvavovpyelv.Kat TOVTO jxev epyov rrj^ oXiyodiTiaî' irapipyov

Be âai rrjv rcov GWfxdroiv av^Tjav. (peperai

yap eh fjirj/co^;,orav to Trvevfia fir) ttoXXtjv (^xfl

BiaTpi,Sr)v Kal aGypXlav viro TrXojOov'^ Tpo<f>rj^

eU PdOo^ Kal TrXaro? irieôiievov, dXX^ dvco /3a-

Bi^y Bid KovôTrjTa, tov acofjLaT0<; eKXvTco^; Kal

5 paBico^; e7nBLB6vTO<;. to 8' avTO tovto Kal KaXov<;

BoKel TTOielv' at yap la'^val Kal BiaKevot puaXXov

eêioi Bid fidpo Kvecv KaOaL-

po/jbivcov yvvaiKcov laxô, fiiv, eveiBTj Be Kal yXa-

(fivpd yiveTai ra ^pe^rj. Bid tjjv iXacppoTijTa t^9

vXrji; KpaTOVfiivrjfi puaXXov vtto tov tvttouvto^;,

dXXd yap rj /nev aiTia tov av/xfiatvovTO^ ev fieo-qy

TTpOKeiaOoCf (TKOTTelv.

XVIII. OuTft) Be KXeTTTovat TrecfypovTiafievox;

ol 7raiBe<i, ojcTTe XeyeTai ti^ ^Brj cTKVfivov dXco-

260

r LYCURGUS, XVII. 3-xviii. i

mimic battles, and in doors makes them serve him at

his meals. He commissions the larger ones to fetch

wood, and the smaller ones potherbs. And they steal

what they fetch, some of them entering the gardens,and others creeping right slyly and cautiously into

the public messes of the men ; but if a boy is caught

stealing, he is soundly flogged, as a careless and un-

skilful thief. They steal, too, whatever food they

can, and learn to be adept in setting upon peoplewhen asleep or off their guard. But the boy whois caught gets a flogging and must go hungry.For the meals allowed them are scanty, in order

that they may take into their own hands the fight

against hunger, and so be forced into boldness and

cunning.This is the main object of their spare diet ; a

secondary one is to make them grow tall. For it

contributes to height of stature when the vitalityis not impeded and hindered by a mass of nourish-

ment which forces it into thickness and width, butascends of its own lightness, and when the bodygrows freely and easily. The same thing seems also

to conduce to beauty of form ; for lean and meagrehabits yield more readily to the force of articulation,whereas the gross and over-fed are so heavy as to

resist it. Just so, we may be sure, women who take

physic while they are pregnant, bear children whichare lean, it may be, but well-shaped and fine, becausethe lightness of the parent matter makes it more

susceptible to moulding. However, the reason for

this I must leave for others to investigate.XVni. The boys make such a serious matter of

their stealing, that one of them, as the story goes,

261

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TreKog K€k\o^(o<; kol tw rpipwvirp irepiareXkwv,

a7rapaa(TOfj-€vo<; vtto tov Orjpiov Tr)v ^faarkpa toX^

ovv^c fcal TOL<; oBovaiv, virep tov \aOelv iyKapre-pcav aiToOaveiv. fcal tovto /jl€v ovSe cltto tcov

vvv i^rj^cov aTriarov iartv, mv ttoXXou? eVt tov

^cofiov Trj<; ÔpOca^; eropaKafJiev ivairoOvrjaKovTa^Tol^ 7r\7}yat<;.

2 A€t7rv}jo-a<; Se 6 eiprjv KaTatceifxevo^ tw fiev

acrat TrpooreTaê tmv iraihwvy tw he epcoTrj/jud ti

TTpov/SaXe '7r€(f)povTi,afiev'rj(; Beofievov airokpierew^'

olov, oa-TL<; apL(TT0<^ iv tol^ avhpdcnv, tj irola tl<;

7) TovBe 7rpa^L<i. €k tovtov Se /cal Kplveiv to.

KaXd Kol TroXvTrpayfiovelv €vOv<; i^ dp^rj<; eWi-

ôvTO irepl Tcov ttoXitcov. to yap ipwTrjdevTa,Tt9 'rroXtTr}<; dya06<;, rj tl^ ovk evBoKifMO^, drropelvTOV diroKpivacrOaL, vwOpa^ eiroiovvTO koI TTyOo?

3 dpeTr)v dîXoTifMOV -x^f^^? arjfietov. eBet. Be ttjv

dirofcpLGLv /cat^ficT aoTia^ elvat koi. aTroBeiêco^;

eh ^paîfv Tiva (TVvr}y/jL€vr]<; Xoyov Kal (tvvtoôv6 Be 7rXr}/jb/jLeXo)<; clttoKpLvajxevo^; e/coXd^cTO Brjyfia

XafJi^dvcav vtto tov eipevof; eh tov dvTLêipa.TToXXdKLf; Be Kal Trpea^vTepcov irapovTWv Kal

dpypvTOiV eip7)v eKoXaê tov<; 7racBa<;, diroBeiîv5iSou9 €0 [xeTo, Xoyov Kal 6l><; Bel KoXdêi. Kal

KoXd^wv fiev OVK eKcoXveTO, tcov Be iraiBcov direX-

dovTcov evOvva^ vireZ'xev, el Tpa')(VT€pov tov Beov-

T09 e7r6TL/jLrj(T€v Tj TovvavTiov eKXeXvfjbevoif; Kal

4 ÊiKOLVcovovv B^ ol epaa-Tal Toh iraial Trj<; B6^<;iir dfKpoTepa' Kal XeyeTal ttotg TraiBo^; iv t&

^r^v a-rrSKpia-iv Koi Coraes, Sintenis^ and Bekker, with

the MSS. : koI t^v air6Kpt<riv.

262

LYCURGUS, XVIII. 1-4

who was carrying concealed under his cloak a youngfox which he had stolen, suffered the animal to tear

out his bowels with its teeth and claws, and died

rather than have his theft detected. And even this

story gains credence from what their youths nowendure, many of whom I have seen expiring underthe lash at the altar of Artemis Orthia.

The eiren, as he reclined after supper, wouldorder one of the boys to sing a song, and to anotherwould put a question requiring a careful anddeliberate answer, as, for instance,

'' Who is the best

man in the city?"

or," What thinkest thou of this

man's conduct ?"

In this way the boys wereaccustomed to pass right judgements and interest

themselves at the very outset in the conduct of thecitizens. For if one of them was asked who was a goodcitizen, or who an infamous one, and had no answerto make, he was judged to have a torpid spirit, andone that would not aspire to excellence. And the

answer must not only have reasons and proof givenfor it, but also be couched in very brief and concise

language, and the one who gave a faulty answer was

punished with a bite in the thumb from the eiren.

Often-times, too, the eiren punished the boys in the

presence of the elders and magistrates, thus show-

ing whether his punishments were reasonable and

proper or not. While he was punishing them,he suffered no restraint, but after the boys were

gone, he was brought to an account if his punish-ments were harsher than was necessary, or, on theother hand, too mild and gentle.The boys' lovers also shared with them in their

honour or dis'irrace : and it is said that one of them"&'

^W9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fia'XjâOai i^wvrjv ayevvri irpoefievov ^r}/j.im6rjvai

rov ipaarrjv viro twv ap')(ovTCDV. ovtco Be rod

ipdv iy/c€Kpi/jL€VOv Trap* avTol<;, coare koI twv

irapOkvwv ipdv Ta<; Ka\a<; xal ayaOa*; yvpaiKa<;,TO avrepdv ovk yv, aXXa /xaXXov cLp)(^r}v Ittolovvto

(fnXlaî 7r/)09 aXXi]Xov<i ol rwv avrcov ipaa6evr€<;,Kal SiereXovv kolvt} (r7TovhdôvTe<; 6tt(o^ apiarovoLTrepydaaiVTO tov ipcofievov.XIX. ÊBiBaa-Kov Be tou? TralBa^ Kal Xoyw

')(prjadaL inKplav eôvrt fjie/iiLyfiepTjv 'x,ôltl koX

ttoXXtjv diTo ppa')(eia^ Xefeoj? dvaOecoprjaiv. to

fiev yap aiBijpovv vo/jLLapu fiLKpdv e^^cv eiroirjo-ev

diro TToXXov (Tradfiov Bvva/xiv 6 AvKovpyo^, 0)9

etp7}TaL, TO Be rov Xoyou vofJLtcrfjba rovvavriov dir

€vreXov<; Kal oXiyrj^ A-efeo)? eh ttoXXtjv Kal ire-

pirrrjv KareaKevaa-e Bidvoiav, rfj ttoXXj} o-icotttj

T0V9 TracBa^ d'iro(j>6eypLaTiKOv<i Ka\ ireiraiBeviie-

vov^ 7r/)09 Ta9 diroKpiaeL^ firj'âvoo/jLevo';. ^9 yapTO crirepfia tmv 7rpo9 Ta9 avvovaia<; aKoXdaTwv

dyovov ft)9 TCL TToXXd Kal aKapirov iariv, ovT(0<i

7) 7rpb<; TO XaXetv aKpaala Kevov rov Xoyov irotel

2 Kal dvorjTOv. Âyt<; fiev ovv 6 âatXevf;, aKco-

irrovro'iÂttckov tlvo<; Ta9 AaKa)viKd<; fiaâipaf;

669 Tr}V fjbtKpoTTjra, Kal Xeyovro^ ort paBico^ avraôl OavfiaroTTOLol KaraiTLvovcrLv ev Tot9 Oedrpoi^,"Kal fjbriv fjudXicrray^ eljrev, **r}p.el^ e(ptKvovp.eda

T0t9 eyxetptBiotf; r&v TroXe/ucov^^ iyo) Be Kal rov

Xoyov 6p(o rov AaKcoviKov /Spa'^vv fiev elvai Bo-

Kovvra, fjbdXiara Be rcov irpaypbdrcov e(f)t.KVOv/JL€vov,

Kal T^9 Biavoia<; dTrrofxevov rcov aKpocojievaJV.

3 Kat yap 6 AvKovpyo^ avro<i ^pa^vXoyofi 52

264

LYCURGUS, XVIII. 4-xix. 3

was once fined by the magistrates because his favourite

boy had let an ungenerous cry escape him while he

was fighting. Moreover, though this sort of love

was so approved among them that even the maidens

foimd lovers in good and noble women, still, there

was no jealous rivalry in it, but those who fixed

their affections on the same boys made this rather a

foundation for friendship with one another, and

persevered in common efforts to make their loved one

as noble as possible.

XIX. The boys were also taught to use a discourse

which combined pungency with grace, and condensed

much observation into a few words. His iron money,indeed, Lycurgus made of large weight and small

value, as I have observed,^ but the current coin of

discourse he adapted to the expression of deep andabundant meaning with simple and brief diction, bycontriving that the general habit of silence should

make the boys sententious and correct in their

answers. For as sexual incontinence generally pro-duces unfruitfulness and sterility, so intemperance in

talking makes discourse empty and vapid. King Agis,

accordingly, when a certain Athenian decried the

Spartan swords for being so short, and said that

jugglers on the stage easily swallowed them, replied:" And yet we certainly reach our enemies with these

daggers." And I observe that although the speechalso of the Spartans seems short, yet it certainlyreaches the point, and arrests the thought of thelistener.

And indeed Lycurgus himself seems to have been^Chapter ix. 1.

t6s

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tf9 eoLKe fyeviaOai koI a7ro^9€y/iaTLK6<;, el Bel

reKfiaipeaOaL rol^ cnro/jLvijfiovevfjLacnif' olov iarc

TO Trepl ra? irokLreia^ irpoî top aîovvra iroielv

BrjfiOKpaTLav ev rfj 'nokei'" %v yapr ecprj, "7rpa)Tor},

*'

Ti,fi(bvT6<; TO Oelov BiaKiircop.ev.^^ Kal irepXt5)v aOXTj/jLciTcov, ravra fjLova /jltj K(o\vaavTO<i

aycovLêadai tov<; TroXtVa? iv 0I9 %€i/) ovk dva-

T€LV6Tat. (pepovraL Be avTOV koI Bi eTTicTToXoiv

a7T0KpL(T€t<; TOiavrai tt/jo? rov<; iroXiTa^. ttw? av

TToXepLLcov 6(f)oBov oXeôi/jLeOa; "*Av nrrcoxol fii-

vr)T€ KaljJLT] fieaBcov arepo^; Oaripco ipdre ^fjuev.''

Kal ttoXlv irepl rcovt6L')(0}V'

" Ovk av eti] arei-

')(i(TT0^ TToXt? aTL<; avBpecrat} Kal ov 7r\[v0oi<i

ecrT€(pdv(OTai,y irepl jiev ovv tovtcov Kal rSiv

roLovTcov eTTio-ToXcov 0VT6 diricrTfjaaL paBiov ovre

Tnarevaat.

XX. T?)? Be 7rpo9 ra fi'^KT) rcov Xoycov Bia-

ySoX?}? Belypâra TOiavra rcov d7rocf)0eyfidT(ov ecrri.

Ae(ovLBa<; 6 âaiXevî dKaip(o<; rivo^ Trepl irpay-

fidrcov OVK dxpô"T(ov BiaXex^^^'ô^;, "'fl êve"elirev,

" ovk ev Beovri XP^V '^^ Beovrc^ XaptXaof; Be

6 dB€X(f)LBov<; Tov AvKOvpyov Trepl Trj<; oXiy6Tr)TO<i

avTov rcov vo/jLcov ipcorrjOei^;, elirev ct)9 ol XoyoL^

fir) xpdyp'evoL 7roXXoi<; ovBe vo/jlcov Beovrai iroXXcov.

2 'Apx^'Ba/jLiBai; Be fiep(j)o/JLevcov rivcov 'RKaralov rov

ao(f)i(Trr)v on rrapaXr^cfydeh €t9 to avaainov ovBev

eXeyev, "'O etSft>9," e<pr), "Xoyov Kal Kaipov olBev''

a Be rcov rriKpcov e(f)7)v d'rro/jLvrjp.orev/idrcop ovk^

&v5pe<Tffi Cobet : avSpeiois.

266

^^Pfron^^ forrr

LYCURGUS, XIX. 3-xx. 2

ort and sententious in his speech, if we may judgefrom his recorded sayings; that, for instance, onforms of government, to one who demanded the

establishment of democracy in the city : ''Go thou,"said he,

" and first estabhsh democracy in thy house-

hold." That, again, to one who inquired why heordained such small and inexpensive sacrifices :

" That we may never omit," said he," to honour the

gods." Again, in the matter of athletic contests, heallowed the citizens to engage only in those wherethere was no stretching forth of hands. ^ Thereare also handed down similar answers which he made

by letter to his fellow-citizens. When they askedhow they could ward off an invasion of enemies, heanswered :

"By remaining poor, and by not desiring

to be greater the one than the other." And when

they asked about fortifying their city, he answered :

" A city will be well fortified which is surrounded bybrave men and not by bricks." Now regarding these

and similar letters, belief and scepticism are alike

difficult.

XX. Of their aversion to long speeches, the

following apophthegms are proof. King Leonidas,when a certain one discoursed with him out of all

season on matters of great concern, said :" My

friend, the matter urges, but not the time." Char-

ilaiis, the nephew of Lycurgus, when asked why his

uncle had made so few laws, answered :

" Men of fewwords need few laws." Archidamidas, when certain

ones found fault with Hecataeus the Sophist for

saying nothing after being admitted to their publicmess, answered : ''He who knows how, knows also

when to speak." Instances of the pungent sayings^ After the manner of men begging their conquerors to

pare their lives.

267

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

dfiotpetv x^pLTO^, roiavT iarL Arj/jidpaTOî dv-

Opctiirov 7rovr}pov kotttovto^ avrov dKalpoif; ipco-

Tijfiaac Kol hi] tovto TroWd/cc^ €p(0TC0VT0<;, "Tt?

dptcTTO^XTrapriarcov;^^ €(j)7}'"'O rlv dvopôioraTOf;.^^

3 'A7i9 Be, iTratvovvTcov rivcov tol/? 'HXetoy? «?

/taXw? rd ^0\vp,7na koL 8tKaLa)<; dyovra^," Kat

tL fieya,^^ 6<^^," 'HXetoi ttolovvti Bl ircov irevre

d/JL6pa fiia '^poifxevoi ra Bixawavva;^^ 0€O7ro/i7ro9

Bk êvov Tivo<; evvoiav evBevKvvfjLevov, kol (fyd-

CKOVTO^ CO? Trapd rot? avrov TroXirait; <j>i\o\dKOi)v

fcaXelrat, **K.dWiov ^rjv tol,^' elirev, "&> êve, (pcXo-

4 TToXlrav KokelaOaL^ UXeiarcova^ Be 6 TiavaavLov,

prjTOpof; *A6r]vaLov tov<; AaKeBacpbOViov^ dfiad€t<i

drfroicaXovvTO^y "'O/d^w?/' eîf], "Xeêt?* p.6vot yap'EXXdvcov

djjL/jLe<;ovBev kukov fJLepadrjKafjLev irap

v/xwi^/*^

Kp')(^LBap,iBa<; Be tt/oo? tov irvdofxevovirocroi elal XTrapTtaTai, "*\Kavoir elirev, "(w êve,

T0U9 Ka/covf; direpvKeiv^^5 "EcTTt Be Kol T0t9 pLerd 7raLBid<i elprjpêvoc^ vir

avTMv reKpL7JpaaOaL tov eOiapov. eWiôvro yappLTjBeiTOTe '^(^prjadaL rw Xoyw 7rapepycD<i, firjBe

dîevai (jycovTjv ?^t£9 ovk dpL(o<; ye 7r&)9 ^'%^ Tivo7;,

" aKovKa Tifjva^^^ 6 Be dvayvov^TO eTrlypapfia tovto'

^êvvvvra^ iroTe TovorBe rvpavvLBa ^dXKeo^ "Apr)êtXe' êXivovvTO^ 5' dpu(^X irvXa^ eOavov,

1 kolWiov ColDet, van Herwerden; cf. Kpeitra^v Morals,

p. 221 e : Ka\hv {it were well).

268

LYCURGUS, XX. 2-5

not devoid of grace, of which I spoke,^ are tl

following. Demaratus, when a troublesome fellow

was pestering him with ill-timed questions, and

especially with the oft repeated query who was the

best of the Spartans, answered at last :" He who is

least like thee." And Agis, when certain ones were

praising the Eleians for their just and honourableconduct of the Olympic games, said :

" And what

great matter is it for the Eleians to practise righte-ousness one day in five years .''

" And Theopompus,when a stranger kept saying, as he showed him

kindness, that in his own city he was called a lover

of Sparta, remarked :" My good Sir, it were better

for thee to be called a lover of thine own city."And Pleistoanax, the son of Pausanias, when anAthenian orator declared that the Lacedaemonianshad no learning, said :

"True, we are indeed the only

Hellenes who have learned no evil from you." AndArchidamus, when some one asked him how manySpartans there were, replied :

"Enough, good Sir, to

keep evil men away."And even from their jests it is possible to judge of

their character. For it was their wont never to talk

at random, and to let slip no speech which did nothave some thought or other worth serious attention.

For instance, when one of them was invited to heara man imitate the nightingale, he said :

"I have

heard the bird herself." And another, on readingthe epitaph :

—"Tyranny's fires they were trying to quench when

panoplied AresSlew them ; Seiinus looked down from her gates

on their death,"^Chapter xix. 1.

VOL. I.jr 269

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

**AtKatco<^*^ eiTre,

" Tedva/cavn rol avhpe^* eBet ykp6 acfîfiev oXav avrav KaraKaajievr veavlaKO^; 8k

7r/)09 Tov i7ra<yyeW6/jL€vov avrSt Bcoaecv a\€K-

Tpv6va<; a7ro6vrj(TKOVTa<^ ev ro) /idxeo-^ciL, "Mrj av

76," elireVt" aXka ^09 ixoi tmv aTroKTeivovrcov iv t&

p,d'êa6air erepo^ Be rt? lEa)V iv a7ro%ft>p7;o-€A

6aK6vovTa^ iirX Bi^pwv dv6pa)Trov<;," My yivotro,^^

elirev," ivTavOa Kadiaat 06ev ovk eariv vireâva-

(TTTJvat irpea^VTepw.^^ to jiev ovv tmv diro^dey-

fidrcov elho^ rjv tocovtov ware /cat \eyetv TLvci<^

OVK aroTTft)? OTL fidXkov iari to (piXoaocpecv rj to

^LKoyv/jLvaa-Tetv XaKwviêiv,

XXI. *H he Trepl ra? wSd<; kol to, [lekr) irai- 53

hevai^s ou^ rjTTov eairovBdêTO r^? ev toI<; \6yoi<i

ev^TJXia^ KoX KadapLOTTjTO^t dXka koi tcl jiekr]

KevTpov el'Xêv iyepTCKOV dvfiov kol irapaaTaTiKov

opfjurj^ evOovaiwBov^ koI TrpayfjuaTLKT)';, kolrj Xefi?

Tjv d(f)e\r]^ KoX dOpviTTo^ inl Trpdy/xaai aepivol^

KOI rjdoTTOLol'i. eiraivoi yap rjaav a)? tcl irdXka

TMV TeOvrjKOTCOv virep T779 îrdpTr]^ evSaifJLOViô-

fieveov, Kal ^^royoi twv TpeadvTcov, &>? dXyeivov Kal

/caKoSalfjLova ^lovvtcov ^lov, eirayyeXia re Kal

êyaXavx^d Trpoî dpeTrjv irpeirovaa Tat? rfKiKLai^*

2 cdv eveKa heiyfiaTO^ ov 'Xêtpov eaTCv ev tl Trpo-

eveyKaaOat. Tpicov yap %opG>i^ KaTa tol^ Tpel<^

rfXiKiaî (TVVKTTa/iievcov iv Ta2<; eopTal^, 6 fiev tcov

yepovTcov dp'xpfievo'^ jjSev

"A/i/ie? TTOK ^jjbe<; aXKifiot, veaviau

270

LYCURGUS, XX. 5-xxi. 2

said :" The men deserved to die ; they should

let the fires burn out entirely." And a youth, whensome one promised to give him game-cocks that!

would die fighting, said," Don't do that, but give

me some of the kind that kill fighting." Another,

seeing men seated on stools in a privy, said :"May

I never sit where I cannot give place to an elder."

The character of their apophthegms, then, was such as

to justify the remark that love of wisdom rather than

love of bodily exercise was the special characteristic

of a Spartan.XXI. Nor was their training in music and poetry

any less serious a concern than the emulous purity of

their speech, nay, their very songs had a stimulus

that roused the spirit and awoke enthusiastic and

effectual effort ; the style of them was simpleand unaffected, and their themes were serious

and edifying. They were for the most part praises

of men who had died for Sparta, calling them blessed

and happy ; censure of men who had played the

coward, picturing their grievous and ill-starred life ;

and such promises and boasts of valour as befitted

the different ages. Ot the last, it may not be

amiss to cite one, by way of illustration. Theyhad three choirs at their festivals, corresponding to

the three ages, and the choir of old men would

sing first :—'^ We once did deeds of prowess and were strong

young men."

271

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Be rcjv aKfiaôvTCdv a/jLCLôfjievo'; eXeyev*

Â/jLfjL€<; Si 7* elfiev at Be X^?, avydaBeo,^

6 Be TpiTo<; 6 tS)v TralBayv

Â/jL/jLe<; Be y ia-o-o/jiecrOa ttoW^ Kappovefs*

"OX«9 Be dv Tt? iiricrrtjo-a^ roh AaKcovifCOif;

rroirifiaa-LV, o)V ere fcad^ r)/JLd<; evta Bieacjoêro, Kal

T0U9 ep,j3arrjpL0V(; pvdfjLov^ avaXa/Scov, oh expo^vTO7r/?09 TOP av\ov eirdyovTe^; roh 7ro\e/jLvoi<;, ov

KafLOx; TjyrjcraLTo Kal rov TepiravSpov koX rov

TiivBapov Tr)V dvBpeiav rfj fiovtrtKTj avvdirreiv.

6 piev yap ovtco^ TreiroirjKe irepl roov AaKeBai-

pLOVLWV

"Ei/^' al'X^pbd re vewv ddWei ical puovaa \CyeiaKal BiKa evpvdyvia

TlLvBapo<; Be(l)r)a-LV'

"^vOa ôvXal yepovrcovKal vecov dvBpoiv apKnevovri al^pLai,Kal X^P^^'' '^^^ Movo-a Kal dyXata.

MovaiKcordrovf; yap dpu Kal TroXefuLiKeordrov^

diro<f>aivovaiv avTov^'

'Veirei^yap dvra tw aiBdpco to KaXco<; ki-

OaplaBev,

0O9 AaKcoviKoî 7roir]Tr)(; etprjKe. Kal yap iv Tat9

p.d'X.ai^^ irpoeOvero rat<; MouaaL<; 6 âatXev<;,

dvapuLp^vrjaKcov, ct)9 eoLKe, t7]<; 7raiBeia<; Kal tcov

1avydtTêo Cobet, as in Morals, pp 238 b, 544 e, and S

(first hand) : irupav \a&4 {come take a try).2 •peVei Scaliger's correction of eprrei. Cf. Bergk, Poet.

Lyr. Or, iii.^* p. 51 (Alcman, Frag. 36).

272

LYCURGUS, XXI. 2-4

Then the choir of young men would respond :—

" We are so now, and if you wish, behold and see."

And then the third choir, that of the boys, would

sing:—"We shall be sometime mightier men by far than

both."

In short, if one studies the poetry of Sparta, of

which some specimens were still extant in my time,and makes himself familiar with the marching songswhich they used, to the accompaniment of the flute,

when charging upon their foes, he will conclude

that Terpander and Pindar were right in associatingvalour with music. The former writes thus of the

Lacedaemonians :—

" Flourish there both the spear of the brave and theMuse's clear message.

Justice, too, walks the broad streets .**

And Pindar says :—^

"There are councils of Elders,And young men's conquering spears.And dances, the Muse, and joyousness."

The Spartans are thus shown to be at the same timemost musical and most warlike ;

" In equal poise to match the sword hangs the sweetart of the harpist,"

as their poet says. For just before their battles, the

king sacrificed to the Muses, reminding his warriors,as it would seem, of their training, and of the firm

1Fragment 199, Bergk, PoU. Lyr. Or. i.< p. 448.

873

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

KpiaeoaVy "va Siat irpoyeipoi irapa ra Betva koX

\6yov Tivof; d^la^ irape'xoyo-i ra? irpdêLî roov

Ixa'XpiJLevodv.

XXII. Tore Se koI roi? veoL^; ra (TicK7]poTaTa

T779 0.70)7779 kiravikvTe^y ovk eK(jo\vov KaXKoairl-

êaOai, irepl KOixrjv fcal Koafjuov oirXwv koI l/iaricov,

XalpovT6<;, (oaTrep 'lttitol^, yavpionGi Kal (f)pvarTO-

fievoL^ Trpo'i T0U9 dy(ova<;. Bco kojj,(oi>t€<; evdv^ Ik

T^9 Twv i(f)rj^cov r)\iKLa<iy /JLoXcara irepl tovs

KLvhvvov<; edepdirevov ttjv KOfjurjv Xtirapdv t€ âL-veaOai koI BtaKeKpifievrjv, diro/nvrjfjLovevovTe'; nvaKal AvKOvpyov Xoyov Trepl Tr]<; KopLr)^, ort tov<;

fiev Ka\ov<i evTrpeirearepovf; iroiel, Tov<i Be alcr-

2 %poL'9 (f)oBep(OTepov<;. i^poivro Be kol yv/xva-(TiOL^ [xaXaKwrepoL^ irapd rd^ arpareta^;, Kal ttjv

dWrjv Btairav ov^ ovrco KCKoXaapêvrjv ovB^ virev-

Ovvov rol^ veoi^ irapelxov, axrre povoi^ dvdpd)7r(oveKeivoL^ t^9 €t9 tov TroXe/iov daKyaeco'^ avdiravaiv

elvai TOV TToXefiov. r^Br] Be avvreray/iievrjq t%<f)d\ayyo<; avrSiv Kal tmv iroXejJiiwv irapovrayv}6 âaiXevf; dp.a njv re 'Xîpatpav iacpaytdêroKal arecfiavovo-dat TrapijyyeXXe irdai Kal tov<;

avXr)Td<; avXelv eKeXeve to Kaaropetov /xeA,09*

3 dfjia 8' e^rjpx^^ i/jLâTTjplov iraLdvof;, ware aefj,vr)v

dfjLa Kal KaraTrXTjKTCKrjv rrjv oyjnv elvai, pvOficpT€ 7r/)09 TOV avXbv epâivovTwv Kal jJurfTe Bid-

(Tiraafia ttolovvtcov ev ttj <^dXayyi pr)Te Tat9

yjrvxal'i OopvôvpevcoVy dXXd irpdw^^ Kal IXapui^VTTo TOV peXov^ dyopevwv iirl tov klvBvvov. ovts

yap ôjSov ovt€ Ovpov eyylveaOai irXeovdtôvTa*

'Kap6vTU)v MSS., Coraes, Sintenis ^, and Bekker : Spciyrcoy

{in the sight of), with Xenophon, Eeip. Lac. xiii. 8.

274

I LYCURGUS, XXI. 4-xxii. 3

decisions they had made, in order that they might be

prompt to face the dread issue, and might perform such

martial deeds as would be worthy of some record.^

XXII. In time of war, too, they relaxed the

severity of the young men's discipline, and permittedthem to beautify their hair and ornament their arms

and clothing, rejoicing to see them, like horses,

prance and neigh for the contest. Therefore theywore their hair long as soon as they ceased to be

youths, and particularly in times of danger they took

pains to have it glossy and well-combed, remember-

ing a certain saying of Lycurgus, that a fine head of

hair made the handsome more comely still, and the

ugly more terrible. Their bodily exercises, too, wereless rigorous during their campaigns, and in other

ways their young warriors were allowed a regimenwhich was less curtailed and rigid, so that they werethe only men in the world with whom war broughta respite in the training for war. And when at last

they were drawn up in battle array and the enemywas at hand, the king sacrificed the customary she-

goat, commanded all the warriors to set garlands upontheir heads, and ordered the pipers to pipe the strains

of the hymn to Castor ; then he himself led off in a

marching paean, and it was a sight equally grandand terrifying when they marched in step witli the

rhythm of the flute, without any gap in their line of

battle, and with no confusion in their souls, but

calmly and cheerfully moving with the strains of

their hymn into the deadly fight. Neither fear norexcessive fury is likely to possess men so disposed,

^ The Greek of this sentence is obscure, and the translation

doubtful.

«75

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T0?9 ovTO) Bt,aK€i/JL6voc<i el/co^ €<TTiv, a\V eva-radh

<fip6vr]fxa fi€T iXTrlBoî Kal Opdaov;, co? tov Oeov

avfjL7rap6vTO<;,

4 *R'^(op€t Be 6 fiaaiXevf; iirl tou? 7ro\€/iiiovaai ye riva

')(^pr)fjidTO)V ttoWmv iv 'OXu/z- 54mot? SiSo/jievcov avTW /jltj Seû/mevov, dWa ttoWm

ir6v(p KaraTraXata-avTa tov dvraycovLarrjVi w? Ti?

elirev avrcp," Tt aoi irXeov, w AaKcov, yeyove Slo,

rrj(; vlk7)<;;^* (f)dvaL /jLetBida-avra,"Ilpb tov âai-

5 Xea)9 TeTayiLi€vo<; fiaxovfJiai toi<; TroXeyittoi?." Tpe-

ylrdfievoi, Be Kal vLKrjaavTe<; iBtcoKOV oaov ixê-0aicoaaa6ai, to vi/crjfia ttj (f)vy7J tcov TroXefxLcov, eiTa

€vOv<; dve^dypovv, ovTe yevvalov ovt€ 'EWrjvi/cov

rjyoviJLevoL KoiTTeiv Kal (fyovevetv dTroXeyofievovf;Kal TrapaKe'x^copijKOTafi. rjv Be ov fiovov KaXov tovtoKal fjLeyaXo^f'VXov, dXXd Kal XP^^^H'OV. elBoTe^; yap01 fUL'xôfievoi 7r/?09 avTov<; otc toi;? v<f)i-<rTa/jLevov<;

dvaipovai, (fyelBovTat, Be tS)v ivBiBovTcov, tov

fieveiv TO (pevyetv rjyovvTO XvacTeXeaTepov.XXIII. AvTov Be TOV AvKovpyov 'iTTTrm? fiev

aocpKTTT)'; TToXe/jLLKooTaTov (j>T)(Ti yeveaOai koI

TToXXcov efiTreipov aTpaTetcov, îXoaTeâvo^ Be

Kal TTfv KaT ovXafJLOv^ tcov iTnrewv Biavo/jLrjv

AvKOvpyw Trpoo-TiOrjcnv' elvat Be tov ovXafôv,ft)9 eKelvoî avveaTrjaev, LTTTrewv 7revT7]KOVTa ttX^^09 €v T€Tpaycovq) (T)(^rjfjLaTt TeTayfievcov. 6 Be

âXrjpev^ A7)/jLi]Tpi,o<;, ovBefJud^; d'xfrd/jbevov rrroXe-

fjLtKf]!^ TTpdêo)^ ev elprjvr) KaTacrrrjcraaOai ttjv tto-

2 XiTeiav. eoiKC Be Kal T779 ÔXv/j,7riaK7](; €K€X€i^pia<;

17 eTTLVOia irpaov Kal irpo^ elprjvrjv oLKeLco^; exovToî

dvBpo^ elvai. KaiTOi (paai Tive^, 0)9 ''Ep/jLi7nTo<;

276

LYCURGUS, XXII. 3-xxiii. 2

but rather a firm purpose full of hope and courage,

believing as they do that Heaven is their ally.

The king marched against the enemy in close

companionship with one who had been crownedvictor in the great games. And they tell of a

certain Spartan who refused to be bought off from a

contest at Olympia by large sums of money, and after

a long struggle outwrestled his antagonist. Whensome one said to him then :

" What advantage, OSpartan, hast thou got from thy victory ?

"he

answered, with a smile :" I shall stand in front of my

king when I fight our enemies." When they had

conquered and routed an enemy, they pursued himfai enough to make their victory secure by his flight,

and then at once retired, thinking it ignoble and

unworthy of a Hellene to hew men to pieces whohad given up the fight and abandoned the field. Andthis was not only a noble and magnanimous policy,but it was also useful. For their antagonists, knowingthat they slew those who resisted them, but showed

mercy to those who yielded to them, were apt to think

flight more advantageous than resistance.

XXni. Hippias the Sophist says that Lycurgushimself was very well versed in war and took part in

many campaigns, and Philostephanus attributes to

him the arrangement of the Spartan cavalry by"oulamoi," explaining that the "oulamos," as con-

stituted by him, was a troop of fifty horsemen in a

square formation. But Demetrius the Phalerean

says he engaged in no warlike undertakings, andestablished his constitution in a time of peace. Andindeed the design of the Olympic truce would seemto bespeak a man of gentleness, and predisposed to

peace. And yet there are some who say, as

911

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiVTjfiovevei, top Av/covpyov ov npocrexciv ovSe

KOivoyvelv ev ap^f) roU irepl tov "Itpirov, aWaTvy')(obvei.v aXXft)? iirLBrffiovvra Kal OeddfievovCLKovaai he (pcovrjv axTTrep dvdpooTrov Tivb<; iô-

rmaOev iTrtTi/jLcovTO^; avTw koI Oavfjudôvro^ onTou? iroXira^ ov TrporpiTreraL Kotvcjvetv t?}9 iravr]-

jvpeco^;' ft)9 Be jieraaTpaêvro^ ovBafiov (f)av€po<i

6 (j)6ey^d/jievo<; rjv, Oelov r^yrjadpLevov, ovrco 7rpo<;

TOV ^l(f)iT0v TpaireaOac Kal avvhiaKoapbrjaavTa

TTjv eopTTjv evBoÔTepav /cal êfiaLorepav Kara-

cnijo-at,.

XXIV. 'H Be iraiBela P'^xpi t(ov evTfKiKoav Bte-

reivev. ovBeh yap r)v d(j>eip.evo^ co? efiovXero ^rjv,

dW* olov ev arparoTreBo) rfj iroXei /cat Biairav

e;ôi/T6? (hpLO-pevrjv Kal Biarpi^r^v irepl ra Koivd,

Kal 6\co<; vopLiôvTe^ ov^ avrcov, dWd rrjv Trpea^vripcov, Kal yap ev nTOVTO Twv KaXcjv rjv Kal piaKapiwv a irapeaKevaaeT0t9 eavTOv iroXiTai^ 6 AvKovpyo<;, d(f>dovia (7%°'

X'59, ot9 re'xy'r)^; puev dyjraaOaL âvavaov ro irapd-irav ovK ecpecTO, %p7;yLtaT<(7yLtoi) Be o-vvaycoyrjv

eôvTo^ ipycoBr) Kal Trpayparetav ovB^ oriovv eBei,

Blcl to KopLiBfi TOV ttXovtov d^7]\ov yeyovevai Kal

3 cLTipLOV. ol Be 6t'\a)T€9 avTOt^ elpydfyvTo ttjv yrjv,

d7ro(j)Opav Tr)v elpr}p,evr]v TeXovvTe^;. eTnBrjpwv Be

Tfc9 ÂOrjvrjo-L BiKa(JTripi(ov ovtcov, Kal irvOop^vo^Tiva BiKTjv dpyla^ w^Xiy/fora fiaBiêtv dOvpLOVVTa

278

LYCURGUS, xxiii. 2-xxiv. 3

Hermippus reminds us, that at the outset Lycurgushad nothing whatever to do with Iphitus and his

enterprise, but happened to come that way bychance, and be a spectator at the games ; that heheard behind him, however, what seemed to be a

human voice, chiding him and expressing amazementthat he did not urge his fellow-citizens to take partin the great festival ; and since, on turning round, hedid not see the speaker anywhere, he concluded that

the voice was from heaven, and therefore betookhimself to Iphitus, and assisted him in giving thefestival a more notable arrangement and a more

enduring basis.

XXIV. The training of the Spartans lasted into

the years of full maturity. No man was allowed to

live as he pleased, but in their city, as in a military

encampment, they always had a prescribed regimenand employment in public service, considering that

they belonged entirely to their country and not to

themselves, watching over the boys, if no other dutywas laid upon them, and either teaching them someuseful thing, or learning it themselves from their

elders. For one of the noble and blessed privilegeswhich Lycurgus provided for his fellow-citizens, wasabundance of leisure, since he forbade their engagingin any mech?nical art whatsoever, and as for money-making, with its laborious efforts to amass wealth,there was no need of it at all, since wealth awakenedno envy and brought no honour. Besides, the Helotstilled their ground for them, and paid them the

produce mentioned above. ^ Therefore it was that

one of them who was sojourning at Athens when the

courts were in session, and learned that a certain

^

Chapter viii. 4,

a79

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fcal 7rpo7r€fi7r6fjLevov vtto t&v tftiXcdv crvvaxOofiivcjvKal âpeax} cfyepovrcov, iBelro Selât rov<^ avfiirap'ovra^ avT(p Tt? icrriv 6 rrjv iXevdepla^^ eaXw/ccof;

Blktjv. ovto) 8ov\o7rp67r€<i rjyovvTO rrjv irepl Ta94 Te')(va^ Kal tov 'X^prjfjLarLcrfiov aa'XôXLav. BC/cai.

Biy C09 €Ik6<;, iîXtTTov apa rw vop.L(T/j,arc, fjirjTe

TrXeoveîa^ fju^re airopia^ avTol<; 7rapova7j<i, lao-

TrjTO<i Be iv evTropta fcal paarcovrj^; Bl evreXeiav

'yeyevT)fjbivrjf;. x°P°^^ ^^ '^^^^ OaXiai Kal evco^âiKal Biarptâl irepi re Oijpa'; Kal <yv/JLvdcna Kal

\e(r%a9 tov diravra XP^^(^^ eVe^ctfyomfoi^, orefirf

CTTpaTevopievoL ruôiei^.XXV. 0/

iJi.ev ye vecorepoi rpiaKovra ircov to

irapdirav ov KaTeâivov et9 dyopdv, dXkd Bid 55TMV avyyevMV Kal TOiv epaaToyv eiroLOvvTo Td<;

dvayKaiaf; olKOvop.ia<;. toc^ Be irpea^VTepoi^

al(T'X,pov rjv crvve'Xâ)'; opdaOat irepl TavTa BiaTpl-

ôvaiv, dXXd fir) to TrXelaTov rrj^; rfpêpa^; irepi tcl

yvpivdaia Kal Ta9 KaXovpeva^ Xeayaf; dvaaTpe-(fteaBai. Kal yap el<; Tai>ra<; avviovTe<; i7rieiK(o<;

ea')(ôXaôv pueT dXkrjXcov, ovBevo^ pêfxvrjiievoL T(ov

7r/309 %/077yu,aTio-yu,oi/ rj y^peiav dyopalov avvTe-

2 XovpTOJV dX\d TO irXelaTOV rjv t^9 TOiavTr}^

BiaTpil3f]<; epyov eTraivelv tl tcov KaXwv, r) t&v

aLcr')(p(ov yjreyetv, jxeTa iraiBid^ Kal ye\(oTO<;, iXa-

(f)pa)<i VTTOcfiepovTO^ ei<; vovOeaiav Kal Biopdcoaiv.ovSe yap auTO? -^v aKpuTox; av(TTr]po<; 6 Av-

Kovpyo<;' dXXd Kal to tov VeXwTO^; dyaXp,dTioveKelvov IBpva-aaOaL '^coaifiio^; laTopel, T7)v Trat-

Bidv ScTTrep TjBva/xa tov ttovov Kal t^9 BiaiTT)<;

*iKevdeplas, Sintenis^ with Coraes, after Bryan; 4\€v

depiay MSS., Sintenis^, and Bekker.

280

LYCURGUS, XXIV. 3-xxv. 2

Athenian had been fined for idleness and was goinghome in great distress of mind and attended on his

way by sympathetic and sorrowing friends, beggedtlie bystanders to show him the man who had been

fined for living like a freeman. So servile a thingdid they regard the devotion to the mechanical arts

and to money-making. And law-suits, of course,

vanished from among them with their gold and silver

coinage, for they knew neither greed nor want, but

equality in well-being was established there, and

easy living based on simple wants. Choral dances andfeasts and festivals and hunting and bodily exercise

and social converse occupied their whole time, when

they were not on a military expedition.XXV. Those who were under thirty years of age

did not go into the market-place at all, but hadtheir household wants supplied at the hands of

their kinsfolk and lovers. And it was disreputablefor the elderly men to be continually seen loitering

there, instead of spending the greater part of the

day in the places of exercise that are called

"leschai."! For if they gathered in these, theyspent their tune suitably with one another, makingno allusions to the problems of money-making or of

exchange, nay, they were chiefly occupied there in

praising some noble action or censuring some base

one, with jesting and laughter which made the pathto instruction and correction easy and natural. Fornot even Lycurgus himself was immoderately severe ;

indeed, Sosibius tells us that he actually dedicateda little statue of Laughter, and introduced season-

able jesting into their drinking parties and like

Places where men assembled for conversation.

281

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ijjLpaXovra Kara xaipov et? ra aviiiroa-La koX Ta<i

TOLavra^ SLarpL^d^.3 To Be 6\ov eWiê tov<s irdXira^ fir) ffovXeaOat

firjBe eTTLaraaOat kut Ihlav ^rjv, «\V otxrirep ra?

fi€\iTTa<; T(p KOivS)(TVjjL(j)V€i<; 6vra<i del Kal jxer

dXKrj\(ov ei\ovfievov<; irepl rov ap')(pvTa, fjucKpov

Belv eêaTcora^ eavrcou vn evOovcnaapiov kol

(pLkoTifiCaf;, 6\ov<; elvai t?}? irarpiBo^;' cu? eanKal (jycovat^; riacv avrcov diroOecoprja-ai rrjv Bid-

4 voLav. 6 fiev yap TLacBdpijrof; ovk iyKptOeh et9

T0U9 TpiaKoaiov^; dirrjeL jiaXa âiSpo^;, ucnrep

')(aipcov on ^€\TiOva<s avrov TpcaKoaLov; rj 7roXt9

e^6i* llo\vKpariBa<; Be 6 Trpeaêvcov 7rpo<; tou?

0acn\€Q)(i arTpaTr)yov<; fieO^ erepcov, ipo/jLevcov av-

tS)V TTorepov IBia irdpeiaiv rj BrjfjLoaia 7r€/jL^6evr€<;,

elirev,** AtAra rv-x^co/iev, BrjfioaLa, a*iKa dirorv-

5'^co/mev,

IBia.^^ rjBe l^pacruBov fiyrrfp ÂpyiXecovif;,

CO? d<^LK6fjLevoi Tive^ et? AaKeBaifiova rS)v ef

*A/Aî7roX€a)9 elarjdXov 7rp09 avrijv, rjpaorrjaev el

KaX(Jt)<i 6 Byoacrt8a9 diriOave Kal rd^ 'îrdpTa';

d^L(o<;' /jueyaXwovTcov Be eKeivcov rov avBpa Kal

XeyovTcov a)9 ovk e%6t toiovtov dXXov rj ^Trdprr)'" M^ Xeyere,^^ elirev,

"(o êvor KaXb^ fiev yap

r}v Kal dyaOo<; 6 BpaaiBa<;, ttoXXov^; Be dvBpa^KaKeBaijJLWv exGt rrfvov Kdppova<;.^^XXVI. Toi'9 Be yepovTa<; avro'^ [xev, 009 eipijrat,

KarecTTT^de rb irpoiTov eK rwv /jLeTaa)(^6vTcov rov

ôvXevfjLaTO<;' varepov Be dvrl rod reXevrSyvTO^

eraê Kadiardvai, rov dpicrrov dperfj KpiOevrar(ov vTTep e^rjKovTa errj yeyovorwv. kol fxeyLaTO^

?3?

I.YCURGUS, XXV. 2-xxvi. i

diversions, to sweeten, as it were, their hardshipsand meagre fare.

In a word, he trained his fellow-citizens to have

neither the wish nor the ability to live for them-selves ; but like bees they were to make themselves

always integral parts of the whole community,clustering together about their leader, almost beside

themselves with enthusiasm and noble ambition, andto belong wholly to their country. This idea can

be traced also in some of their utterances. For

instance, Paedaretus, when he failed to be chosen

among the three hundred best men, went away with

a very glad countenance, as if rejoicing that the

city had three hundred better men than himself.

And again, Polycratidas, one of an embassy to the

generals of the Persian king, on being asked by themwhether the embassy was there in a private or a

public capacity, replied :" If we succeed, in a public

capacity ;if we fail, in a private." Again, Argileonis,

the mother of Brasidas, when some Amphipolitanswho had come to Sparta paid her a visit, asked themif Brasidas had died nobly and in a manner worthyof Sparta. Then they greatly extolled the man andsaid that Sparta had not such another, to which she

answered :"Say not so. Strangers ;

Brasidas wasnoble and brave, but Sparta has many better menthan he."

XXVI. The senators were at first appointed byLycurgus himself, as I have said,i from those whosliared his counsels

; but afterwards he arrangedthat any vacancy caused by death should be filled bythe man elected as most deserving out of those

above sixty years of age. And of all the contests in

1Chapter V. 7 f.

283

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

iôKci TMV iv avOpco7roi<; ayoovayv ovto<; eTvai koX

7re/0iyua;^77TOTaTO9- ov yap iv Ta%eo-t rdxicTTovovS* iv laxvpoh lo-'xypoTaTOVt aX>C iv ayaOol^KoX croa^poGiv aptarov /cal a(D<^poveaTaTov eBei

Kpidevra viKTjrijpiov eêuv ttj^ aperrj^; Sia îov to

o-vfiiravy (0(; elireiv, KpdTO<; iv ry iroXiTeia, Kvpiovovra Kol Oavdrov /cal aTifiia<i xal oXo)? tcov

2 fieyiaTcdv. iyuvero Se rj Kpiai^ rovBe rov rpoirov.

iKKkr}<TLa^ dOpoiadcLar)^ dvSpe<; alperol KaOelp-

yvvvro ttXtjo-lov et? oi/crj/ia, rrjv fiev oyfrtv ovx

6p(bvT€<; ovBe opcojjLevoLy rrjv Be Kpavyrjv jjlovov

aKovovTe^ iKK\r\GiaôvTwv, ôfi yap a)9 raWaKoi TOt'9 d/JLLW(0/ji€VOV^ €KplVOV, OVX o/^û irdvTCDV,

aXV CKdarov xard KXrjpov elaayajxevov Kal aLcoirfj

3 BiaTTOpeuo/jîvov rrjv iicKKricTiav. exovT€<; ovv ol

KaraKXetaroL ypa/jUfMarela, fcaO^ efcaarov eTretrry-

/juaivovTo tt)? Kpavyrj^ to fieyeOo^, ovk elBoTeî

OT(p yevoLTOj irXrjv oti TTyowTo? Tf BevTepof; fj TpiTO^

rj oiToaTOcrovv eXrj tmv elaayofievcov. otw Be

7r\eL(TT7} yevoLTo Kal /JbeytaTr), tovtov dvîyopevov.

6 Be aT€(j)av(ocrd/jLevo<i irepfpei 701)9 deov<^' eXirovTO

Be TToWol vioL t^rj\ovvTe<; tov dvBpa Kal fieyaXv-

vovT€^, TToWai Te yvvalK€<; iyKcofjudôvaai BC

(pBr)<i Tr)V dpeTtjv Kal tov fflov evBaifjLOVLôvaat.

4 Ta)v Be iiTLTriBeiwv eKa<jTo<; avrw Belirvov rrapa- 56

Tcdeh eXeyev otl y 7roX£9 TavTrj Tifia ttj Tpaire^y.

TrepieXOcbv Be eh to (TvaaiTiov dirriei' Kal to, fiev

dXXa iyiveTO avvÔco^y BevTepa^ Be iiepiBo<i avTM

284

iYCURGUS, XXVI. 1-4

the world this would seem to have been the greatesmd the most hotly disputed. For it was not

swiftest of the swift, nor the strongest of the strong,but the best and wisest of the good and wise wh(was to be elected, and have for the rest of his

as a victor's prize for excellence, what I may call the

supreme power in the state, lord as he was oflife^

ind death, honour and dishonour, and all th^|

greatest issues of life. The election was madethe following manner. An assembly of the peoj

having been convened, chosen men were shut upa room near by so that they could neither see nor be!|

seen, bat only hear the shouts of the assembly. Fot^as in other matters, so here, the cries of the assemblj|decided between the competitors. These did notf

appear in a body, but each one was introduce!

separately, as the lot fell, and passed silently through^the assembly. Then the secluded judges, who ha(

writing-tablets with them, recorded in each

the loudness of the shouting, not knowing for whoiit was given, but only that he was introduced firsts

second, or third, and so on. Whoever was greetedwith the most and loudest shouting, him theydeclared elected. The victor then set a wi*eath

upon his head and visited in order the temples of

the gods. He was followed by great numbers of

young men, who praised and extolled him, as well

as by many women, who celebrated his excellence in

songs, and dwelt on the happiness of his life. Eachof his relations and friends set a repast before him,

saying: "The city honours thee with this table."

When he had finished his circuit, he went off to his

mess-table. Here he fared in other ways as usual,

but a second portion of food was set before him,

285

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irapaTeBe'KT'qq i(f>v\aTr€v apd/jbevo<:* kol fiercb rb

helirvov iirl rat? Oupac<; rod (piBirlov twv olKeiwv

7rapovao)v jwulkcov, fjv pLoXiara rvy^dvoL rifiSiv

Trpoae/caXelrOf kol BiBovî ttjv fjuotpav eXeyev otl

TavTTjv avTO^ XajBoDV dpicnelov eKeivr} huScoatv,

axrre Kd/ceivTjv ^rjXovfievrjp viro twv aWcov irpo-

TrefiTreaOai, yvvaiKMV.XXVIL Kal iJLr]v /cal ra irepX ra<; Ta(j>a<;

apiara Biefcocr/jurjaev avroh?- nrpMTOV jiev yapdveXoiv BeiaiSacjjiovLap diracTav iv rfj iroXet

OdiTTeiv Toxjf; veKpovs, koI TrXTjalov e%€iz/ ra pLvrj-

jxara tmv lepcov ov/c i/cdyXvae, (TVVTp6<j)ov<; ttolcov

rat? TOiavraL<; 0'\]r€(Ti,/cat avvrjOeL^ Tot'9 veov^,

axTie pur] TapaTTecrOai pi/rjB^ oppcoSecv tov Odvarov

<h<; pLLaivovra TOvvXXoi<! iXaLa<s

2 Oevre^ to (Tcop.a Trepiio-reXXov. eTnypdyjrai Be

TOvvopLa OdyjravTaf; ovfc i^rjv tov ve/cpov, TrXrjv

dvBpo^ iv TToXepuw Kal yvvacKb<; tcov lepwv diro-

OavovTcov. 'X^povov Be TrevOov^ oXiyov TrpoadypLcrev,

rip,epa<; evBeKa- Ty Be BcoBeKUTrj dvaavTU^ eBet

i\rjp,7)TpL Xveiv TO irdOo^. ovBev yap rjv dpyovovBe dipeLpLevov, dXXd ttcktl KarepLiyvve rot?

dvayfcaioi^ dpeTr}<; TLva ^rjXov rj KaKia^ BiaôXrjv'Kal KaTSTrvKVOV TrapaBecypdrcov irXrjOeL ttjv

ttoXlv, oU dvayKalov yjv ivrvyxdvovraf; del Kal

avvTpeôpLevov<; dyecrOai Kal Karaa-'^Vf^^'^^^^^B^''l6vTa<^ TTpoî TO KaXov,

^ avrols Coraes and Bekker, after Bryan : axn6s {himself).

286

LYCURGUS, XXVI. 4-xxvii. 2

which he took and put by. After the supper was

over, the women who were related to him being nowassembled at the door of the mess-hall, he called to

him the one whom he most esteemed and gave her

the portion he had saved, saying that he had received

it as a meed of excellence, and as such gave it to

her. Upon this, she too was lauded by the rest of

the women and escorted by them to her home.XXVII. Furthermore, Lycurgus made most ex-

cellent regulations in the matter of their burials.

To begin with, he did away with all superstitiousterror by allowing them to bury their dead within the

city, and to have memorials of them near the sacred

places, thus making the youth familiar with such

sights and accustomed to them, so that they were not

confounded by them, and had no horror of death as

polluting those who touched a corpse or walked

among graves. In the second place, he permitted

nothing to be buried with the dead ; they simplycovered the body with a scarlet robe and olive leaves

when they laid it away. To inscribe the name of

the dead upon the tomb was not allowed, unless it

were that of a man who had fallen in war, or that of

a woman who had died in sacred office. He set apart

only a short time for mourning, eleven days ;on the

twelfth, they were to sacrifice to Demeter and cease

their sorrowing. Indeed, nothing was left untouchedand neglected, but with all the necessary details of

life he blended some commendation of virtue or

rebuke of vice ; and he filled the city full of goodexamples, whose continual presence and society mustof necessity exercise a controlling and mouldinginfluence upon those who were walking the path of

honour.

287

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 *'09ev ovS* aTroSrj/jLecv eScoKe rot? j3ovXofi€voi<iKoi TrXavdaOaL, êviKa avvdyovra'; rjOr) kol fjuifirj-

/jLura piwv aTraiSevTCOv koI iroKLTevfiaTcov Sia-

(popcov. aWa koI tou? dOpoLô/jL€VOv<; eV* ovBevl

^prjaifiw Koi irapeLcrpeovTa^ eU rrjv iroXiv dirri-

Xavvev, ovx> ^? ^)ovKvBL8rj<; (prjai,, SeSto)? /jurj Trj<;

TToXtreta? fjLi/nrjral yevcovrai Koi irpo^ dpeTrjv tl

'Xprjaiôv eKfidOcoaiv, dXXd fjbdXXov otto)? fxr)

4 Bi,Bd(TKaXoi KUKOV Tivo<; VTrdp^coavv. afjua yap^6V0L<; crwiiacnv dvdyfcrj X6yov<; eTretaievai, ^€vov<;'

XoyoL he Kaivol fcpLaei^; Kaivd<; eirLêpovaiv. efMv dvdyKrj irddrj ttoXXcl <f)V€aOai, koI 7rpoaip€a€i<;dTrahovaa<; 7rpo<; ttjv /caOea-rwcrav iroXireiav,

wcrirep dpfioviav. Blo fidXXov (pero 'xpijvat (J3V-

Xdrreiv rrjv iroXiv ottco^; rjOcov ov/c dvairXTâOrj-(Tejat TTovrjpoJV rj acofiaToyp voaepcbv e^coOeviiretaiovTcov.

XXVIII. Êv fiep ovv tovtol<^ ovBev ianvdSt,K[a<; iî'o? ovSe irXeoveîa'^, fjv iyKaXovaiveviOL TOt? AvKovpyov v6fJôi<;, co? LKav(o<; e')(pvaL

TTpo^ dvBpeiav, eVSew? Se tt/do? hiKaioavvTjv. rj

Be KaXovfjLevrj KpvTTTeia irap avTol<;, et ye Br)

TOVTO Tcbv AvKovpyov TroXiTevfidrcov ev ea-riv,

ft)?

^

Api(TT0T€X7j<; laroprjKe, ravrrjv av ecij koi twYiXdrwvi irepl ri]^ 7roXiTeLa<; koL tov dvBp6<;

2 eveipyaa-fiivT} Boâv. rjv Be Toiavrrj' tmv vewv

01 dp')(ôvTe<;Bid -x^povov tov<; fidXtcrra vovv e^îv

Bofcovvra^ eh rrjv p^fopav dXXco<; eêTre/JLTrov,

exovra<; eyxî^pi'Bia xal rpocprjv dvayKalap, dXXoBe ovBev ol Be iêO^ rj/mepav fiev eh d(TvvBr]Xov<f

Bcaa-TreLpofjuevot tottou?, dTreKpvTrrov eavrov^ Kal

288

LYCURGUS, XXVII. 3-xxviii. 2

rhis was the reason why he did not permit themto Uve abroad at their pleasure and wander in strange

lands, assuming foreign habits and imitating the lives

of peoples who were without training and lived under

different forms of government. Nay more, he actuallydrove away from the city the multitudes which

streamed in there for no useful purpose, not because

he feared they might become imitators of his form

of government and learn useful lessons in virtue, as

Thucydides says,^ but rather that they might not

become in any wise teachers of evil. For along with

strange people, strange doctrines must come in ; and

novel doctrines bring novel decisions, from which

there must arise many feelings and resolutions which

destroy the harmony of the existing political order.

Therefore he thought it more necessary to keep bad

manners and customs from invading and filling the

city than it was to keep out infectious diseases.

XXVIII. Now in all this there is no trace of

injustice or arrogance, which some attribute to the

laws of Lycurgus, declaring them efficacious in

producing valour, but defective in producing righte-ousness. The so-called "krupteia," or secret servicej of

the Spartans, if this be really one of the institutions

of Lycurgus, as Aristotle says it was, may have givenPlato also 2 this opinion of the man and his civil polity.

This secret service was of the following nature. The

magistrates from time to time sent out into the

country at large the most discreet of the youngwarriors, equipped only with daggers and such

supplies as were necessary. In the day time theyscattered into obscure and out of the way places,

^ In the Funeral Oration of Pericles, ii. 39, 1.

« Laws, p. 630 d.

289

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aveiravovTOy vvKTcop Be KanovTe^ eh t^9 oSou9

3 Tcov elXcoTCOv rov d\i,afc6fjLevov dneacpaTTOV. iroK-

XdKi<; Be Kol tol<; dypol^^ eimropevoiJLevoi rou?

pco/jLaXecordrov^; kol KpaTLarov^ avroov dvTjpovv,

coaTrep koI %ovKvBiBr)<^ ev tol<; Tle\o7rovp7)acaKOL<;

laropel roix; eV* dvBpeia irpoKpiOevTa^; viro r&v

XTrapTiaTMV o-recpavcoaaaOat fxev o)? e\evdepov<; 57

yeyovora'; koI irepLeXOelv rd rcjv Oecov lepd,

fiiKpov Be varepov diravTa'^ d(j)av€i6pov<;, orav €t9 rrjv dpxw /caraarwai

TTpbiTOV, TOt? eXXaxTL KUTayyiXXeiv TroXefiov,

OTTO)? evayh y to dveXelv.

Kal rdXXa Be rpax^fOf; irpoaecpepovro kol

(TKXrjpo)'^ avrol^, ware fcal TTLveiv dvayKaôvreîroXvv d/cparov eh rd crv(T<TLrca irapetarrjyov, im-

BeLKVvjJLevoL TO jjueOveLV olov ean roh V€0i<;. koX

(pBd<; e/ceXevov dBeiv kol')(î^peia<; ')(ôpevet.v dyevveh

KoX KarayeXdcrrov;, direyeaOai Be rwv eXevQepwv.5 Bio Kai ipaaLV varepov ev rfj ©rjâicov €t? rr)V

AaKcoviKTjv arpareia rov<; dXt.aKo/jLevov<; e'iX(ora<i

KeXevo/jLevov<i aBeiv rd TepirdvBpov kol^

AXkixuvo^Kol ^rrevBovro's rov AdKo)vo<i irapaureladaL, (f)d-

aKovra<^ ovk eOeXetv rov<i Beairoavvov^. mare rov<;

Xeyovra^, ev Aa/ceBaufiovi kuI rov eXevOepov fid-

Xiara eXevOepov elvai kov rov BovXov /jidXiara^ To7s aypols MSS. (incl. S) : rovs aypovs after Coraea.2Sry Cobet, cf. Thuc. iv. 80, 4 : ry.

290

I LYCURGUS, XXVIII. 2-5

where they hid themselves and lay quiet ; but in the

night they came down into the highways and killed

every Helot whom they caught. Oftentimes, too,

they actually traversed the fields where Helots were

working and slew the sturdiest and best of them. So,

too, Thucydides, in his history of the Peloponnesianwar,i tells us that the Helots who had been judgedby the Spartans to be superior in bravery, set wreaths

upon their heads in token of their emancipation, andvisited the temples of the gods in procession, but a

little while afterwards all disappeared, more thantwo thousand of them, in such a way that no manwas able to say, either then or afterwards, how theycame by their deaths. And Aristotle in particular

says also that the ephors, as soon as they came into

office, made formal declaration of war upon the

Helots, in order that there might be no impiety in

slaying them.And in other ways also they were harsh and cruel

to the Helots. For instance, they would force themto drink too much strong wine, and then introduce

them into their public messes, to show the youngmen what a thing drunkenness was. They also

ordered them to sing songs and dance dances that

were low and ridiculous, but to let the nobler kindalone. And therefore in later times, they say, whenthe Thebans made their expedition into Laconia,^

they ordered tlie Helots whom they captured to singthe songs of Terpander, Alcman, and Spendon the

Spartan ; but they declined to do so, on the pleathat their masters did not allow it, thus proving the

correctness of the saying :" In Sparta the freeman

is more a freeman than anywhere else in the world,* iv. 80. ' Under Epaminondas, 369 B.C.

291

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

BoOXoVy ov (fyavXco^; TeOewprjKevai rrjv Siacfiopdv.

6 Ta9 fjiev ovv TOiavTa<i 'âXeTTorrjra'i varepov iy-

yeveaOai Tot<; XTrapTLdrai^; vofii^co, [xaXiaTa fiera

Tov fiiyav creia[x6v, oS a-vveinOeaOaL tou? €LkcoTa<;

fjL€Ta Meaarjvicov laropuvcri, koI irXelara KaKo,

rrjv ')(o}pav ipydaaaOuL koI fxeyiarov rfj iroXei

irepLcrrrjcrat klvSvvov. ov yap av ey<oye irpoadeir^v

KvKOvpyw ptapbv ovrco t7?9 Kpv7Tr€La<; epyov diro

Trj<i dW'r]<; avrov 7rpa6Tt]To<; koX BiKaioavvrjf;

reKpâipopevo^ top Tpoirov, w xal to haifioviov

iirefiapTvprjae.

XXIX. KareiXTj/ifjievcov Be toU ediafjiol^ rjBr)

Toyv KVpicordrcov vii avrov, Kal T7]<; TroXtraa?

iicTeOpafjLpevr]^ iKai'(o<; xal Svvafiivr]^ (f)epeiv eav-

Ti]V Kal aditeLV Bl eavrrj^;, coa-irep 6 TlXdrcop

(f)rjalv iirl T(p Kocrpw yevopLevcp Kal Kivr}9evrL ttjv

TTpcorrjv KLvr)(TLV €v(j)pavOrjvai rov Qeov, outoj?

dyaaOel^ Kal dyairiâa^ to t>)9 vojjboOeaia^; KdX-

Xo9 Kal pîyeOof; iv epytp y€i'opevr)<; Kal oBo) âBt-

ôv(Tr}<;, iireOvprjaev, o)<; dvuarbv ef dvBpwirLvqf;

'irpovoia<;, dOdvarov avrrjv aTToXiirelv Kal aKivqTOV2 et? TO pbeXXov. avvayaywv ovv diravra^ eh €k-

KXrjaiav, rd pev dXXa perpia}^ exî-v e^rj Kal

iKava). Belv ovv eKeivov; ippeveiv rol<; Ka6e<TT0)cn

vopoL^ Kal prjBev dXXdaaeiv prjoe peraKivelv ea)9

eirdveLaiv ex AeXcjyojv avTO^' iiraveXOoDv yap 6 ri

292

LYCURGUS, XXVIII. 5-xxix. 2

and the slave more a slave." However, in myopinion, such cruelties were first practised by the

Spartans in later times, particularly after the great

earthquake,! when the Helots and Messenians

together rose up against them, wrought the widest

devastation in their territory, and brought their cityinto the greatest peril. I certainly cannot ascribe

to Lycurgus so abominable a measure as the ''

krup-teia," judging of his character from his mildness and

justice in all other instances. To this the voice of

the god also bore witness.^

XXIX. When his principal institutions were at

last firmly fixed in the customs of the people, andhis civil polity had sufficient growth and strengthto support and preserve itself, just as Plato says^that Deity was rejoiced to see His universe comeinto being and make its first motion, so Lycurguswas filled with joyful satisfaction in the magnitudeand beauty of his system of laws, now that it

was in operation and moving along its pathway.He therefore ardently desired, so far as human

forethought could accomplish the task, to make it

immortal, and let it go down unchanged to future

ages. Accordingly, he assembled the whole people,and told them that the provisions already made were

sufficiently adapted to promote the prosperity andvirtue of the state^ but that something of the greatest

weight and importance remained, which he could

not lay before them until he had consulted the godat Delphi. They must therefore abide by the

established laws and make no change nor alteration

in them until he came back from Delphi in person ;

* 464 B.C. Cf. Plutarch's Cimon, xvi.* See chapter v. 3. • Timaeus, p. 37 c

293

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 av Tw Oew SoKrj iroirjcreiv. ofJioXoyovvTcov Se rrrdv-

Tcov Kal fce\ev6vT(Dv /SaSiêiv, opKov<; Tul^cov iraparcov âaiXiayv Kal tcov yepovrcov, eireira iraparwv dWcov TToXiTwv, efxpLevelv fcal 'XprjaeaOai rrj

fcaOecTTcoarj iroXiTeia fiexpi^ civ eTvavekOr) 6 Av-

Kovpyo^y CLTrrjpev eh AeXôu?.

TIapayevojbievo'; Be irpo^ to fiavrelov Kal t«6ea) dvcra<;, ripcoTrja-ev el Ka\M<; ol vojjlol Kal iKa-

vco<i 7rpo<; evBaifjioviav Kal dperrjv TroXeo)? Keiixevoi,

4 rvy')(^dvov(Tiv. airoKpivafiivov he rod Oeov Kal tou?

v6fJLov<; Ka\a)<; KelaOai Kal ttjv itoXlv ivBoôrdrijv

Sia/nevelv rrj AvKovpyov xpwjxevr^v iroXireia, ro

/idvrev/jLa ypayâjxevo^ eh XTrdprrjv dTreareiXev.

auT09 he tw Oew wdXtv 6vaa<i Kal tov<; (^tXoi;?

d(T7raa-dfjLevof; Kal rov vlov, eyvco pbrjKeri rolg

iroXiraL'i d<êlrai rov opKov, avrov he KaraXvcrai

rov fiiov eKovoricd^y r}XiKia<; y€yovQ)<; ev y Kal /3tovv

en Kal Treirava-Oai fiovXo/jL€vot<; oypatov eari, Kal

TCOV irepl avTov lKavco<; Trpb^; evhaifjLoviav e'êiv ho-

5 KovvTcov. eTeXevT7]aev ovv d7roKaprepr]aa<;, rjyov- 58

jjL€vo<i ')(prjvai TCOV iroXiTiKciiv dvhpcov firjhe rov

Odvarov diroXirevTOV elvai firjhe dpybv to tov

Plov TeXo9, aXX' ev dperrjf; fiepihi Kal irpdêco^

yevofxevov. avrco re yap eêipyacrjievcp ra KdX-

XicTTa TTjv TeXevTTjv (B9 dX7]dco<i eiTLTeXeicoaLV elvai

Trj<; evhaifjiOVLa<s, Kal roh TroXtrat? o)v hid tov

^Lov TrapecTKevacre KaXcov Kal dyadcov cfivXaKa tov

Odvarov dTToXei-êtv, ofico/xoKoai 'x^prjcrOai rfj tto-

6 Xirelaiie-)(^pL'i

av eKelvo^ eiraveXOri, Kal ov hieyjrev-

294

I LYCURGUS, XXIX. 3-6

then he would do whatsoever the god thought best.

When they all agreed to this and bade him set outon his journey, he exacted an oath from the kingsand the senators, and afterwards from the rest of

the citizens, that they would abide by the established

polity and observe it until Lycurgus should comeback

; then he set out for Delphi.On reaching the oracle, he sacrificed to the god,

and asked if the laws which he had established were

good, and sufficient to promote a city's prosperity andvirtue. Apollo answered that the laws which he hadestablished were good, and that the city wouldcontinue to be held in highest honour while it keptto the polity of Lycurgus. This oracle Lycurguswrote down, and sent it to Sparta. But for his own

part, he sacrificed again to the god, took affectionate

leave of his friends and of his son, and resolved

never to release his fellow-citizens from their oath,but of his own accord to put an end to his life wherehe was. He had reached an age in which life was not

yet a burden, and death no longer a terror; when he

and his friends, moreover, appeared to be sufficiently

prosperous and happy. He therefore abstained fromfood till he died, considering that even the death of

a statesman should be of service to the state, and the

ending of his life not void of effect, but recognizedas a virtuous deed. As for himself, since he had

wrought out fully the noblest tasks, the end of life

would actually be a consummation of his good for-

tune and happiness ; and as for his fellow-citizens, hewould make his death the guardian, as it were, of

all the blessings he had secured for them during his

life, since they had sworn to observe and maintainhis polity until he should return. And he was not

295

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

0-^77 rdv XoyLdfjiMv' toctovtov iirpccTevarev rj iroXi^

rr]<; 'EXXaSo? evvoixia koI ho^rj, ')(^povov irSyv

irevTaKoaiwv toI<s AvKovpyov 'x^prjaajjievr] v6[jL0L<i,

ou? S€KaT€cradp(Dv âcriXetov [ler eKelvov eh^Kyiv Tov Âp-)(^cBd/jLOV yevofieicop ovBel<; eKivrjo-ev.

7) ryap rcjv i(f)6pcov Ararao-racri? ovk av€<rL<; rjv,

aW eTTtraci? t?}? TroXtreia'!;, kol BoKovcra Trpo?TOV hrjfJLOV yeyovevai afpoSporepav iTroCrjae rrjv

dpKTTOKparlav.XXX. "AyiSof; Se /SaaiXevovro^ elaeppinj v6-

fxiafxa TTpMTOv eh rrjv ^Trdprrjv, koI puera tov

vofiio-fjbaTo^ TrXeove^ta koL itXovtov f?}Xo9 iire^rjBed AvaavBpov, 09 avTO<; o)v dvaXwro^ viro XPV~fidTcov, iveTrXrjcre ttjv iraTpiBa (f)LXo7rXovTLa<i kol

Tpv(j)r](i, )(pvaov /cal dpyvpov i/c tov TroXepLOV kut-

ayaycov koI tov^ AvKovpyov KaTaTroXiTevadpLe-z/09 v6fiov<;. oiv iiriKpaTovvTcov irpoTepov ov iro-

Xeo)<; r) îrdpTT] iroXLTeiav, aXX' dvBpo<; daKTjTovKol (TO(f)ov piov exovaa, pboXXov B\ oiairep 01

TTOLrjTal TOV 'HpaKXia pLvdoXoyovai BippLU fcal

^vXov eôvTa ttjp oIkovjjbevrjv iiTLTropeveaOaiy ko-

XdôvTa Tou? 7rapav6pLOV<; Koi 6rjpta)Bei<; Tvpdv-vovî oi/TO)? r) 7t6Xl<^ diro crKVTdXri<; pLid<; xal Tpi-

^(DVO<i dpxpvcra t^9 'EXXa5o9 eKovar]^ koI ôv-Xofjiivrjfi, KaTeXve tu^ dBiKov^ BvvaaTeLa^ kol

TvpavviBa^ iv Toh TroXiTevpLaai, koX TroXepLovî

i^pdfieve kol (TTdcreiî KaTeirave, iroXXdKi^; ovB'

daTTtBa KLvrjcracra piiav, aXX' eva Trepbyfraaa

irpecrêvTrjv, w TrdvTS^ evOv^ eTToiovv to Trpoa-

Taa(T6pL(:V0v, (oairep at pueXLcraaL âvevTO<^ 9776-

pi6vo<^y awTpe-ôvTe^; fcal KaTaKoapLovpuevoi, Toa-

ovTov ireptrjv evvo/j>la<; Ty iroXei koi BiKaioavvrji;.

296

I LYCURGUS, XXIX. 6-xxx. 2

deceived in his expectations^ so lon^ did his cityhave the first rank in Hellas for good governmentand reputation, observing as she did for five hundred

years the laws of Lycurgus, in which no one of the

fourteen kings who followed him made any change,down to Agis the son of Archidamus. For the

institution of the ephors did not weaken, but rather

strengthened the civil polity, and though it was

thought to have been done in the interests of

the people, it really made the aristocracy more

powerful.XXX. But in the reign 01 Agis, gold and silver

money first flowed into Sparta, and with money,greed and a desire for wealth prevailed through the

agency of Lysander, who, though incorruptible him-

self, filled his country with the love of riches andwith luxury, by bringing home gold and silver fromthe war, and thus subverting the laws of Lycurgus.While these remained in force, Sparta led the life,

not of a city under a constitution, but of an individual

man under training and full of wisdom. Nay rather,as the poets weave their tales of Heracles, how withhis club and lion's skin he traversed the world chas-

tising lawless and savage tyrants, so we may say that

Sparta, simply with the dispatch-staff and cloak of

her envoys, kept Hellas in willing and glad obedience,

put down illegal oligarchies and tyrannies in thedifferent states, arbitr ted wars, and quelled seditions,often without so much as moving a single shield, but

merely sending one ambassador, whose commandsall at once obeyed, just as bees, when their leader

appears, swarm together and array themselves abouthim. Such a surplus fund of good government and

justice did the city enjoy.

297

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 *'06ev eyoyye 6av/jidâ) twv Xeyovrcov 009 cipX^'(J6at jxev rjêaav, apxeiv he ovk iQiriaravro Aaxe-

haLfiovLoi, /cat top Seoiro/iiTrov rov âat\eco<;iiraivovvTCOv Xoyov, 09, elirovro'^ tivo<; acoêaOai

rrjv Xirdprrjv Bid toi'9 âaCKeU dp'xîKOv^; yeyo-vora^,

"MaXXoi/," elTre,

** Bid toi'9 7roXiTa<; irei-

4 Oap)^LKov<; 6Wa9'" ov yap aKoveiv virojievovaL rcbv

TTpocTTaTelv jjLrj Bwafjiivcov, dX>J77 Treidap^îa fiddrj-

fxa jiev icrriv rov a/^ôi/ro?^(ifiirotel ydp 6 koXm^

dycov TO Ka\.co<; eireaOar koX KaOdirep i7r7riK7]<;

rex^v^ dTroriXecTfia irpaov 'lttttov koI TreLOijvwv

irapaa-x^lv, ovrco â(nXi/cf]<; iina-T'^fir)<^ epyov

dvdp(t)7roL<; evTreLOeiav evepydaaaOai), Aa/ceBat-

fjLovLoi Be OVK eviretdeiav, dX}C eTriOufilav iveipyd-

fovTO Tot9 dX\,oi<; rov dp'^êaOat /cal viraKoveiv

5 avrocq. yrovv ydp ov vav<; ovBe ^(^prjixaTa irapavTcov ovBe 6iT\LTa<i 7re//,7roi^Te9, dXkd eva Xirap-

Tidrrjv rjyefiova' koX Xafiovreî e^p^vro fierd

T[fjLr]<; Koi Biov^;, axTirep TvXLTTTrq) îKeXtcjrat

KOI BpaauBa XaXKiBet^, AvadvBpo) Be koI KaXXt

KpariBa koi ÂyqcriXdw 7rdvre<; ol ti]v Âaiav

oiKovvreî "FjXXrjve<;, tol'9 fiev dvBpa<; dpixoardf;KOI (7co(f)povia-Td<; TMV e/caaraxov Brjiicov Koi

dp'XpVTwv 6vofidôvTe<;, irpo^ Be avynraaav Tr]v

roiv XTrapriarwv iroXiv &aiTep iraiBaywyov 7)

BiBdaKaXov eva')(î^ôvo^ piov kol reTay/jLev7]<;

6 TToXiTeia^ d7rofiXe7rovTe<;. eh kol XrpaTovtKO^;

iTTiaKcoyjrai. Bo/cel, fierd 7raiBi.d<i vofioOeTOiv kol

KeXevcov^

A6iivaiov<^ dyeiv jJivcnrjpLa koi iro^Trd^,

^WXeiovî Be dywvoOerelv, &)9 KaXXiara rovro

TTOLOvvra^y AaKeBaiôviov<i Be, dv d/uiaprdvcoaiv* rod &PXOVTOS with S : ip^ôvros,

998

LYCURGUS, XXX. 3-6

Wherefore, I for one am amazed at those whodeclare that the Lacedaemonians knew how to obey,but did not understand how to command, and

quote with approval the story of King Theopompus,who, when some one said that Sparta was safe andsecure because her kings knew how to command,replied :

"Nay, rather because her citizens know

how to obey." For men will not consent to obeythose who have not the ability to rule, but obedienceis a lesson to be learned from a commander. For a

good leader makes good followers, and just as the

final attainment of the art of horsemanship is to

make a horse gentle and tractable, so it is the task

of the science of government to implant obediencein men. And the Lacedaemonians implanted in therest of the Greeks not only a willingness to obey,but a desire to be their followers and subjects.

People did not send requests to them for ships, or

money, or hoplites, but for a single Spartan com-mander ; and when they got him, they treated himwith honour and reverence, as the Sicilians treated

Gylippus ; the Chalcidians, Brasidas ;and all the

Greeks resident in Asia, Lysander, Callicratidas, and

Agesilaiis. These men, wherever they came, were

styled regulators and chasteners of peoples and

magistrates, and the city of Sparta from w hich theycame was regarded as a teacher of well-ordered

private life and settled civil polity. To this positionof Sparta Stratonicus would seem to have mockinglyalluded when, in jest, he proposed a law that theAthenians should conduct mysteries and processions,and that the Eleians should preside at games, since

herein lay their special excellence, but that theLacedaemonians should be cudgelled if the others

299

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ovToi, SepeaOai. koI tovto fiev ecprjTat %a/oir

Tov yeXoiov *AvTi(T6evr]<; Sk 6 ^WKpariKo^ airo

Tr]povovvTa^, ovBev avrov^ e<f>r) huaêpeiv 59

TraLBapucov iirl tw avyKoyfraL tov iracBaycoyov

yavpi(i)V7a)v.

XXXI. Ov firjv TOVTO ye Ta> AvKovpyo) /ce^d-

Xaiov rjv Tore, irXeicTTCdv rjyov/xivrjv dirdXnrelv

Tr)V ttoXlv aXV wGirep evo<; dvBpb<; îw Koi

iroXeco^ 6Xr]<; vo/jll^wv evBaijioviav dir* apeTTjq

iyyiveaOai koI 6fwvo[a<; t^? ttô? avTijv, tt/oo?

TOVTO avv€Ta^6 KOI crvif^pfioaev, 07r&)9 iXevOipioiKol avTapKCLî yevofievoL koI aaxppovovvTe^ iirX

2 TrXelaTOV -xpovov ScaTeXojai. tuvttjv kol IIXcltcov

eXape tt}? TroXireta? viroOecnv koI Atoyevr)<; Kal

Zrjvcov Kal 7raz/T€9 oaoi tl irepX tovtcov eTriêipj]-

aavTeî elirelv eTratvovvTai, ypdfjLfiaTa Kal X6yov9d7roXi7r6vT€<; fiovov. 6 he ov ypd/i/iaTa Kal X6yov<;,dXX' epyo) iroXiTeiav dfitfjuijTOV eh ^co? irpoeveyKa-

fievo^y Kal T0t9 dvvirapKTOV elvai Tr)v Xeyofievrjv

irepl TOV (TOôv SidOecriv viroXafx^dvovcTiv iinhei-

fa? oXrjv TTjv ttoXlv ^tXoaocpovaav, et/coTO}? virep-

Tjpe Tjj Bo^rj Tou? TTcoTTOTe TToXLTevaafMevovî iv

3 Tol(;"EXXr]at,. Bi oirep Kal^

Api(7T0TeXr]<; eXarro-

va<; (Txelv (fyTjat, ti/jlcl^; fj TrpocrrJKOV rjv avTov eêiviv AaKeBaipbovL, Kaiirep eôvTa Ta? p.eyLaTa<;.

lepov Te ydp iaTiv avTov, Kal Ovovai Ka0' €Ka-

(TTOV iviavTov ft)9 Oew. XeyeTai Be kol tcov Xeiyjrd-

vcov avTov KOjjLLadevTcov o'UaBe Kepavvov tl<; tov

309

I LYCURGUS, XXX. 6-xxxi. 3

did amiss.^ This was a joke ; but Antisthenes the

Socratic, when he saw the Thebans in high feather

after the battle of Leuctra/ said in all seriousness

that they were just like little boys strutting aboutbecause they had thrashed their tutor.

XXXI. It was notj however, the chief design of

Lycurgus then to leave his city in command over a

great many others, but he thought that the happinessof an entire city, like that of a single individual,

depended on the prevalence of virtue and concord

within its own borders. The aim, therefore, of all

his arrangements and adjustments was to make his

people free-minded, self-sufficing, and moderate in

all their ways, and to keep them so as long as

possible. His design for a civil polity was adoptedby Plato, Diogenes, Zeno, and by all those who havewon approval for their treatises on this subject,

although they left behind them only writings andwords. Lycurgus, on the other hand, produced not

writings and words, but an actual polity which was

beyond imitation, and because he gave, to those whomaintain that the much talked of natural dispositionto wisdom exists only in theory, an example of anentire city given to the love of wisdom, his fame

rightly transcended that of all who ever founded

polities among the Greeks. Therefore Aristotle

says that the honours paid him in Sparta were less

than he deserved, although he enjoys the highesthonours there. For he has a temple, and sacrifices

are offered to him yearly as to a god. It is also

said that when his remains were brought home, his

* Cf. chapter xviii. 4.- In 371 B.C., when the Thebans under Eparainondas broke

the supremacy of Sparta.

VOL. I. T 301

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rd<f>ov KaTaaKTJyjrar tovto Be ov paBLay; erepwTivl Tcbv iirKpavcov ttXtjv ^vpiTriBrj avfiTrea-elv

varepov, reXevrrjaavTi /cal Tacf)6VTt t^? M-UfceBov-

ta? Trepl ÂpeOovaav. ware aTrokoyrjfia kuI fJMp-

Tvpiov fii'ya elvac rot? dyaTraxTL rov KvpLTriBrjp to

fiovG) avfiTreaelv avT^ {jLera rekevTTjv^ a rw

OeocpiXea-rdro) koL oo-Lcordrq) TTporepov avveireae.

4 TeXevTTJaai Be top Av/covpyov ol jiev iv K^tppa

Xiyovatv, ÂiroXXoOefiif; Be eh *HXiv KOfJuadevTa,

TlfxaLo^ Be koI Âpiaroêvo^ ev K.pijrr} /caTafiico-

aavra' kuI rdcpov^

Apiaroêvo'^ avrov Beiicvvadai

^r)(nv VTTO KprjTcov t^9 Ilepyafua<; irepX rrjv

êviKTjV oBov. vlov Be Xeyerat /jLOvoyevij KaraXi-irelv Âvriaypo'j' ov reXevT^cravro^; dre/cvou to yevo^

5 eêXiTTev. ol B' iratpoi koI olKeloi BLaBo')(r}v TLva

KoX (TvvoBov eirl 7roXXov<i 'X^povov; Biaixelvacrav

/caTea-TTjaav, /cat ra? r)/j,epa^ ev ah avvTJpôvro

AvKovpyiBa^ TTpoarjyopevaav. ÂpcaroKparr)^ Be

6 *l7r7rdp')(ôv (f)7jal tou? êvovf; tov Av/covpyovTeXevTYjaavTOî ev KptJTr) Kavaai to acofjLa kol

Biaarrelpai ttjv Tecjypav eh Tr)v OdXaTTav, avTov

BerjOevTO^; /cat (f>vXaâp,evov pbrj irore dpa tcov

XeL-yjrdvcov eh Aa/ceBalôva KOfiiaOivTcov, a)9 eirav-

rjKovTO^ avTov koI tmv opKcov XeXvfjbevwVy fieTa-

^dXcocri, Tt]v TToXireiav, TavTa fiev ovv Trepl tov

Av/covpyov.^ The words koI yeveaQai following TeAeurV are deleted

by Bekker and Sintenis ^(in critical notes).

30a

LYCURGUS, XXXI. 3-5

tomb was struck by lightning, and that this hardly

liappened to any other eminent man after him

except Euripides, who died and was buried at

Arethusa in Macedonia. The lovers of Euripidestherefore regard it as a great testimony in his

favour that he alone experienced after death whathad earlier befallen a man who was most holy andbeloved of the gods.Some say that Lycurgus died in Cirrha

; Apollo-themis, that he was brought to Elis and died there

;

Timaeus and Aristoxenus, that he ended his days in

Crete;and Aristoxenus adds that his tomb is shown

by the Cretans in the district of Pergamus, near the

public highway. It is also said that he left an onlyson, Antiorus, on whose death without issue, the

family became extinct. His friends and relations,

however, instituted a periodical assembly in his

memory, which continued to be held for manyages, and they called the days on which they came

together, Lycurgidae. Aristocrates the son of Hip-parchus says that the friends of Lycurgus, after

his death in Crete, burned his body and scattered

the ashes into the sea, and that this was done at his

request, and because he wished to prevent his

remains from ever being carried to Sparta, lest the

people there should change his polity, on the pleathat he had come back, and that they were therefore

released from their oaths. This, then, is what I

have to say about Lycurgus.

303

NOMAS

I. "EfTTt Be Kol Trepl rcov No//,a rod âaCkecof;

Xpovcov, Ka9^ ov^ yiyove, veaviKr) hLa(j)opd, Kaiirep

ef cipx^^ ^t'*? ToifTOV KardyecrOai tcjv arefi/jbdroyv

cLKpilBSi^ BoKOVi'Tcov. dWa KXcoSi09 T^9 iv i\e'y')(w

Xpov(ov (ovTCJ rydp TTW? eiTLyeypaTTTai TO j3i^\iov)

IdXypiêrai to,^ fiev apxaia^ eK€Lva<: dvaypa(f)a<;iv T0t9 KeXr^/co?? irdOeai Trj<^ iroXeco^ rjâvlaOaL,Ta<^ he vvv (j)aivofieva<i ovk a\7)0(b<; cTvyKelaOat, Be

dvBpcbv x^piô/xevcou rialp eh to, irpcora jivrj Koi

TOV<; iTrKpaveardTov; oXkov<; ef ov TrpoarjKovrwv2 ela^Laôfievoi^. Xeyo/jievov 8' ovv w? No/za? yevoi-TO UvOayopov avvrjOrjfi, oi fiev oXax; dîovat

fjLTjBev 'EXkTjvtKTJî iratBevaeco'^ No/jua jjêrelvai,

Kaddirep r) <f>vcr€i Bvvarov koi avrdp/cT) yeveaOai

irpo^ dpeTTjv t) êXriovi UvOayopov âp^dpw rivl

rr/v Tov /SacrtXeo)? diroBovvai iraiBevcnv ol Be

HvOayopav fiev oyjre yeveadai, rcov No/id xpovfov3 6/jlov Ti Trevre yeveal

NofLd<; €69 TTjv âaiXeiav KaTeorrr], irXavrjOevra

irepl TTJV 'IraXiav avyyeveaOat r^ No/jlo. koi avv-

306

NUMAI. There is likewise ^ a vigorous dispute about the

time at which King Numa lived, although from the

beginning down to him the genealogies seem to bemade out accurately. But a certain Clodius, in a

book entitled " An Examination of Chronology/'insists that the ancient records were lost whenthe city was sacked by the Gauls/^ and that those

which are now exhibited as such were forged, their

compilers wishing to gratify the pride of certain

persons by inserting their names among the first

families and the most illustrious houses, where theyhad no cause to appear. Accordingly, when it is

said that Numa was an intimate friend of Pytha-goras, some deny utterly that Numa had anyGreek culture, holding either that he was naturally

capable of attaining excellence by his own efforts, or

that the culture of the king was due to someBarbarian superior to Pythagoras. Others say that

Pythagoras the philosopher lived as many as five

generations after Numa, but that there was another

Pythagoras, the Spartan, who was Olympic victor

in the foot-race for the sixteenth Olympiad^(in the

third year of which Numa was made king), andthat in his wanderings about Italy he made the ac-

quaintance of Numa, and helped him arrange the1 Cf. Lycurgus, i. 1-3.* 390 B.O. Cf. Camillusy xix.-xxix. ^ 657-654 b.o.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

BtaKocr/jLTicTai rrjv iroXiTelav, odev ovk oXiya toI<;

'VwfxalKoh iTnrrjBevjjLaai twv AaKcoviKwv avajjue-

iilyQai Hvdayopov SiSdâvro^;. aXXo)? Be No//.a?

761/0? fiev Tjv eK âfilvwv, Xafilvoi Be /SouXovrai,

4 AaKcBaifiovlcov eavrov^ a7roLKov<; yeyovevai. tov<;

fiev ovv 'X,p6vov<; iâKpi^waaL %aX,e7roz/ eVrt, Kal

jxaXiaTa tov<; e/c to)v ÔXv/jlttlovlkcov avayofjL€VOu<;,

a)v TTjv avaypa^rjv oyjri (f)a(TLP ^lirirlav eKBouvai

Tov ^HXelov, air ovBevo<; opficofievov avayKaiov

TTpo^ iria-TLV a Be 7rap€cX')](f>a/jL€v -qfjuel^: a^ca

Xoyov irepl Nofid, Bieî/jêi^ ^PXV^ oiKeuav Xa-

fi6vTe<;.

II. "Fi^Bo/JLOV eviavTovrj ^Pojfiri Kal rpiaxoaTOV

TjBr] ^VcofjLvXov â(TiXevopTO<; wKelro' irefiTTrrj Be

larafjLevov fjLrjvoî, fjv vvv rjfxepav v(ova<; K.aTrpa-TtVa? KaXovai, dvcrlav riva BTjfioreXi] irpo t^?TToXeo)? 'Pft)/iuXo9 eOve irepi rb KaXovfjbevov

Alyb<i e\o9, fcal irapriv rjre fiovXrj Kal tov B/j/hov

2 TO irXelcTOV. eâi^vrj'^ Be fieydXr}'; irepl tov depaT/307r?79 yevofievT}^ Kal ve<ôv<; enrl irjv yrjv epeiaav-T0<; dfia TTvevixaTi Kal ^dXy, tov fiev dXXov o/ilXov

eKirXayevTa awefir) (ûyeti/ Kal aKeBaa-dfjvai,TOV Be 'F(o/JLvXov d(j)avy] yeveadai, Kal firjTe

avTov CTL ixrjre awfia TeOvrjKOTO^ evpeOrjvat, %a-XeiTTjv Be Tcv virovocav d-yjraa-Oai twv iraTpiKLcov,Kal purjvai Xoyov ev tS)

BrjiJLcpKaT avTciyv o)?

TrdXai fiapwofxevoi to jSaaiXeveadat Kal fieTa-

crTYjcrai to KpdTO^ et? avTovep€a-6aL Kal jJbovapx^'^f^'T^pov avToh. dXXa

TavTTjv fiev Trjv viroylriav eOepdirevov eh Oecov

308

"NUMA, I. 3-II. 3

government of the city, whence it came about thi

many Spartan customs were mingled with th

Roman, as Pythagoras taught them to Numa. Andat all events, Numa was of Sabine descent, and the

Sabines will have it that they were colonists from

Lacedaemon. Chronology, however, is hard to fix,

and especially that which is based on the names of

victors in the Olympic games, the list of which is

said to have been published at a late period byHippias of Elis, who had no fully authoritative basis

for his work, I shall therefore begin at a convenient

point, and relate the noteworthy facts which I havefound in the life of Numa.

II. For thirty-seven 3'ears, now, Rome had beenbuilt and Ronmlus had been its king; and on the

fifth of the month of July, which day they now call

the Capratine Nones, Romulus was offering a publicsacrifice outside the city at the so-called Goat's

Marsh, in the presence of the senate and most of

the people. Suddenly there was a great commotionin the air, and a cloud descended upon the earth

bringing with it blasts of wind and rain. The

throng of common folk were terrified and fled in all

directions, but Romulus disappeared, and was neverfound again either alive or dead. Upon this a

grievous suspicion attached itself to the patricians,and an accusing story was current among the peopleto the effect that they had long been weary of

kingly rule, and desired to transfer the power to

themselves, and had therefore made away with the

king. And indeed it had been noticed for sometime that he treated them with greater harshnessand arrogance. This suspicion the patricians soughtto remove by ascribing divine honours to Romulus,

309

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tifict<; avdyovre^ a)9 ov reOvrjKora rov 'T(Ofiv\ov,

aX\a Kp€LTTOvo<; ovra /jLOipa<;' kol JJpoKXo^;, avrjp

i7rt,(j)avr]<;, Bico/JLoaaro ^Vwfxvkov ihelv eh ovpavbv<jvv T0t9 ottXoc^ ava(f)€p6/ui€vov, Kal (pcovrj^ uKOvaai

KekevovTO<; avrov ovofidêaOac K^vplvov.

4 'Ere/ja 8e rapa')(r) /cat aTd(ri<; KareXdfiâve

TTjv ttoKlv virep rov fjLeX\ovTo<; aTroSeLX^Vêadai,

ffacrL\eco<i, ovttq) toov iTrrjXvScov ko/jllStj rot? Trpco-

Toi<; (TvyKeKpafiivcov TroTuVat?, aXV ert rov re

Brjfiov TToWa KVfiaivovTOf; ev kavrco kol t&v

irarpLKKov ivv'Tro'\jr[,aL<;

ix rov hiacjiopov irpoî

dXkt)\ov<; ovTcov. ov firjv dXXa âaikeveaOaL

fiev iBoKet iraaiv, rjpKrav he koX Siea-rrjcrav ov')(^

virep dv8po<; jjlovov, dWd koI yevov^, birbrepov5 irapeêt rov rjyefjLOva. /cal yap ol [xerd 'FcofjLvXov

TTpOJTOl (TVVOtKi(TaVT€fi TTJV TToXtV OVK draa^CTOVeiroLovvTO iroXeco'i Kal %ti6/)<29 tov<; Saffivov<; fie-

Ta\a^6vTa<; dpêiv BtdêcrOai tmv eirl ravra

Beâ/jbivfov, Kal toI<; Xa/3LV0L<; rjv ti<; evyvcoficov

X0709, eirel Tarlov rod âaiXeco<; avrcov diro-

QavQVTO'^ OVK earaaladav 7rpo<; 'Fco/jlvXov, dXX*

etaaav dpxî'V piovov, av6L<; dîovvrcov rov dp-

')(pvTa yeveaOat irap avTMV. ovre yap eK ra-

Tretvoripcov Kpeirroai irpocryevkcrQai, Kal irpoaye-

vofievoL TTXrjOei re pcoaaL Kal irpoayayelv eU

dîcopâ 7r6\ea)9 eKeivov^ fieO' iavr&v. VTrep jxev

ovv TovTcov iaraaiaiov.6 '^07rft)9 he p,r) <Tvyyy(TLV Ik T779 dvapxia<i 17

<jTd<Ji^ dTrepydaerai, pLerecopov rod rroXtrev-

pLaro<i ovro^y eraâv oi irarpiKLOh TrevT^Koinra 61

310

NUMA, II. 3-6

on the ground that he was not dead, but blessed

with a better lot. And Proculus, a man of eminence,took oath that he had seen Romulus ascending to

heaven in full armour, and had heard his voice com-

manding that he be called Quirinus.^The city was now beset with fresh disturbance and

faction over the king to be appointed in his stead,for the new comers were not yet altogether blended

with the original citizens, but the commonalty wasstill like a surging sea, and the patricians full of

jealousy towards one another on account of their

different nationalities. It is indeed true that it wasthe pleasure of all to have a king, but they wrangledand quarrelled, not only about the man who should

be their leader, but also about the tribe whichshould furnish him. For those who had built the

city with Romulus at the outset thought it intolerable

that the Sabines, after getting a share in the city andits territory, should insist on ruling those who hadreceived them into such privileges ;

and the Sabines,since on the death of their king Tatius they hadraised no faction against Romulus, but suffered himto rule alone, had a reasonable ground for demandingthat now the ruler should come from them. Theywould not admit that they had added themselves as

inferiors to superiors, but held rather that their

addition had brought the strength of numbers andadvanced both parties alike to the dignity of a city.

On these questions, then, they were divided into

factions.

But in order that their factions might not produceutter confusion from the absence of all authority,now that the administration of affairs was suspended,

* Cf. Bomidua, xxvii. 3—xxviii. 3.

3^1

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kol eKarov ovrcov avrcov, CKaa-rov iv fiepei rotfi

âaCkLKol^ TTapaarjjjLOL^ KOcr/jLovfievov 6veiv re toI<;

OeoU TCL vevo/JLia-fjieva /cal XPVH^'^î^^^ ^f P'^v a>pa<;

7 T^9 vvKTOfi, ef Be Tr}<; r)p.epa<;. koi yap rj StavofMr]

T(ov KaLpcov CKarepov tt/oo? laoTrjra Ka\(o66vov, opcovTa

rr}? avTYj^ r)fjL€pa<; Koi vvkto^ tov avrov lSLCOTr]v

eic âaiXicof; jivo/jlcvov. to Be axvH'^ tovto t?}?

ap')(rj^ IMeaoâaikeLav 'VfOfjialoL Kokovaiv.

III. 'AWa Kaiirep ovt(o 7ro\iTLKco<; xal ave-

7raxô)<; dcjii^yelaOai BoKovvTe^, vTrovolat,^ kol

6opvôL<; TrepieTTiTTTov, co? fieOi(TTdvT€<; et? 6\l-

yapx^^cL^ TO, TTpdy/jLaTa koX BiaTraiBayaiyovvTeîv atpLcriv avT0L<i ttjv TroXcTeiav, âaiXevea-Oai

Be ovK iOeXoLev. €K tovtov avve^rjaav d/jL<f)6Tepai

7rpo9 dXXij\a<; at crTdaei<i, wcrre tt}v CTepav ix

2 r^9 eTepa^ aTroBetâi âcnXea' fidXiaTa yap av

ouTft)? ev Te T(p TrapovTC rravaaadai ttjv <f)tXo-

veiKiav, Koi tov aTroBei'xOevTa irpo^ dp,(f>oTepov^

caov yeveaOai, tou9 fiev Q)<i eXofievovf; dyaircovTa,

Tot9 Be evvovv ovTa Bid avyyeveiav, eiTLTpe-

yjrdvTcov Be 7rpoTepOL<; to?9 'PoofiatOL^ twv â/Slvcov

TTjV aipecTLV, eBoê fidXXov eXeaOai Xaffcvov av-

T0v<; d'iroBeiâvTa<; rj irapaa-'xêZv ^Vwfialov e/ceCvcoi'

3 eXofievcov. koX BovXevadpievoi KaO* eavTov*; diro

BeLKVvovcnv e/c âîvcov ôpLav Uo/jLTnXLoVi dvBpiTwj; puev eh 'Vd)p,r}v aTrtpKLO-fievayv ov yevopuevov,

312

I NUMA, ri. 6-III. 3

it was arranged by the senators, who were onehundred and fifty in number,^ that each of them in

his turn should assume the insignia of royalty,make the customary sacrifices to the gods, andtransact public business, for the space of six hours

by day and six hours by night. This distribution of

times seemed well adapted to secure equalitybetween the two factions, and the transfer of powerlikely to remove all jealousy on the part of the

people, when they saw the same man, in the course

of a single day and night, become king and then a

private citizen again. This form of government theRomans call "interregnum."

III. But although in this way the senators were

thought to rule constitutionally and without

oppression, they roused suspicions and clamorous

charges that they had changed the form of govern-ment to an oligarchy, and were holding the state in

tutelage among themselves, and were unwilling to

be ruled by a king. Therefore it was agreed byboth factions that one should appoint a king fromthe other. This was thought the best way to endtheir prevailing partisanship, and the king thus

appointed would be equally well-disposed to both

parties, being gracious to the one as his electors,and friendly to the other because of his kinship withthem. Then, as the Sabines gave the Romans their

option in the matter, it seemed to them better to

have a Sabine king of their own nomination, than to

have a Roman made king by the Sabines. Theytook counsel, therefore, among themselves, andnominated Numa Pompilius from among the Sabines,a man who had not joined the emigrants to Rome,

^ Cf. RomuliLSy XX. 1.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yvoopi/jiov 8' ovT(o Sl aperrjv ovra iracnv wcrre

Tcov eXo/jL6vcov TTpoOv/jLorepov 6vofiaaO€vro<; avrov

Beâadai rou? âSivov<;. <j)pdaavr€<; ovv rw SijfKp

ra hehoyfieva, irpeaêLî ifCTri/inTOvaL tt/oo? tov

avBpa KOLvy rov^ irpcoTevovra^ air* a/jL(f)OTepa)v,

rjK€LV Berjaofiivov^ kol irapaXaêlv ttjv âai-\eiav.

4 'Hi* he 7r6\€0)ov<; ev

Xa/Blvoc^ T?79 Kvpecov, acjy rj<^ kol YLvpira^

^Fcofialot <T^d<; avTOVfj ajut rot? avaKpadelaiâPivoL<i irpocTTj'yopevcrav, vl6<; Be IIo/^Trwz/o?/

avBpo<; €vBo/€i/jLOV, reaadpcov dBeX(f)cov v€coraTO<i'

rjfiipa Be jeyovax; Kara By] riva Oeiav tv)(t]v ev

17 rr]v 'IPco/jurjv eKTtaav 01 rrrepl 'Fco/jluXov avrrj Be

5 icTTL TTpo BeKafiidf; /caKavBcov Matcov. ^vaei Be

7rpo<; irdaav dperrjv ev K6/cpa/jL€vo<; to yOo^;, en

fidWov avTOv i^r)fiep(0(Te Bia iraiBeia^ koI kuko-

TTadeia^; teal <pt\o(TO(p[a<;,^ ov fxovov ra XoiBopov-

/jLeva irdOr) rrj<; "^VXV^' dXXa koI rr)v evBoKi-

fjbovaav ev roU âp^dpoi^ îav kol irkeove^laveKTroBcbv TTOiijad/jLevoî, dvBpeiav Be dXrjOi] rrjv viro

Xoyov ro)v eTTLOvjiioiV ev avr^ /cdOetp^LV rjyov'

6 fjLevo<;,eK Be tovtov irdaav OLKoOev dfia Tpv(f>r)v

Kal TToXvTeXeiav eêXavvwv, iravrl Be ttoXlttj Kal

êva> ')(^prj(T6ai irapex'^v eavrov ajiie/jLTrrov Btfcaa-

rrjv Kal avjJLJBovXov, avro<; B^ eavro) (T')(oXdôvTL

')(^pwfievo<iovBev tt/oo? r)BvTTa6eia<; Kal 7ropL(7/jLov<:,

dXXa BepaTretav Oewv Kal decopiav Bia Xoyov

<j>v(7eco<;re avTcov Kal Bvvdfieco<;, ovofia /leya Kal

^Tl6fjLirai>vos a correction of Uofjuruviov by Sintenis' (critical

notes), adopted by Bekker, and now confirmed by S.' Kal <pi\oao<plas omitted by Bekker, with C.

NUMA, III. 3-6

but was so universally celebrated for his virtues that,

when he was nominated, the Sabines accepted himwith even greater readiness than those who had

chosen him. Accordingly, after making their

decision known to the people, the leading senators

of both parties were sent as ambassadors to Numa,begging him to come and assume the royal power.Numa belonged to a conspicuous city of the

Sabines called Cures, from which the Romans,

together with the incorporated Sabines, took the

joint name of Quirites. He was a son of Pompon,an illustrious man, and was the youngest of four

brothers. He was born, moreover, by some divine

felicity, on the very day when Rome was founded byRomulus, that is, the twenty-first day of April.

i Bynatural temperament he was inclined to the practiceof every virtue, and he had subdued himself still more

by discipline, endurance of hardships, and the studyof wisdom. He had thus put away from himself not

only the infamous passions of the soul, but also that

violence and rapacity which are in such high repute

among Barbarians, believing that true bravery consis-

ted in the subjugation of one's passions by reason.

On this account he banished from his house all luxuryand extravagance, and while citizen and strangeralike found in him a faultless judge and counsellor,he devoted his hours of privacy and leisure, not to

enjoyments and money-making, but to the service of

the gods, and the rational contemplation of tlieir

nature and power. In consequence he had a great* Cf. Bomulus, xii. 1,

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Boâv elx^v, axrre /cat Tdnov top iv 'Fa)fit)

av/jLâatXevaavra 'FcofjLvXo), fiLa<i avrm Ovyarpo^7 ov(T7]<; TaTLa<i, TroLrjaaaOat yafi^pov eKelvov. ov

fir)v einfjpOr) rye T(p ydp.(p /jLeToiKiaacrOai 7rp6<; top

irevdepov, dX)C avrov irepieircdv irarepa ynpaioviv XaîvoL<; virepLevev, dpua koX tt}? Tar/a? eXn/jLe-

1/779 TTjv Tov dvBpo^ lBi(OT€vovTO<; r]GV')(iav irpo t?}9

iv 'Pco/jLT) Bid TOV irarepa Tip>rj^ Koi So^rj';. avTTj

/JL6V ovv XiyeraL rplrq) Koi Be/cdrw fieTCL tov

ydpuov €T6t, TeXevTTJaai.

IV. 'O Be Noyua? iKXeuwcov Ta9 iv darei Bia-

T/3fcy8a9 dypavXetv ra TroXXd /cat irXavdaOai pôvo^

rjOeXev, iv dXaeo-i 6e(bv /cal Xeip,a)crLv lepol<; koX

TOTToc^ iprjpLOL<{ 'jTOLOvpêvo^ TTjv BiacTav. odev 62

ovx TjKiaTa Tr}v dp')(r)v 6 irepl t^9 Oedir(ov diroXe-

2 XoLire îov, dXXd <Tep>voTepa<; yeyevp,evo<} opîXCa^

Kol ydpLQUV deioDV r^îwpevo^, *Hyep[a Baipiovi

(Tvva>v ipcoarj koi avvBLaLTa>p,evo<i, evBaipxov dvrjpKOL Td dela 7r€7rvvp€vo<; yeyovev. otl piev ovv

TavTa TToXXocf; tcov irdvv iraXaicov pvOcov eoiKcv,

01)9 ol ^pvy€<; TC irepl "ATreco /cal BiOvvol wepl

'HpoBoTOV Kal irepl ^KvBv/jll€0VO<; 'Ap/ca3e9 dXXoiT€ irepl dXXwv euBaipovcov Bi] tivcov Kal OeocpiXcjv

yeveaOai Bokovvtcov 7rapa\a^6vT€f; 7)yd7nj(rav,3 OVK dBrjXov eVrt. Kai irov Xoyov e^î' tov deov,

ov (pLXLTTTTOv ovBk (iilXopviv, dXXd (f)LXdv6p(D7rov

ovTa, Tol6p6vT(i}<; dyaOol^ iOeXetv avvelvaiy

Kal prj Bva'Xêpalveiv pbrjBe aTipidêtv dvBpo^ ocriov

316

NUMA, III. 6-iv. 3

name and fame, so that Tatius, the royal collccague ofRomulus at Rome, made him the husband of his onlydaughter, Tatia. He was not, however, so exalted

by his marriage as to go to dwell with his royalfather-in-law, but remained among the Sabines min-

istering to his aged father. Tatia, too, preferred the

quiet life which her husband led as a private citizen

to the honour and fame which she had enjoyed at

Rome because of her father. But she died, as weare told, in the thirteenth year after her marriage.

IV. Then Numa, forsaking the ways of city folk,determined to live for the most part in countryplaces, and to wander there alone, passing his days in

groves of the gods, sacred meadows, and solitudes.

This, more than anything else, gave rise to the storyabout his goddess. It was not, so the story ran,from any distress or aberration of spirit that he for-

sook the ways of men, but he had tasted the joy ofmore august companionship and had been honouredwith a celestial marriage ; the goddess Egeria lovedhim and bestowed herself upon him, and it was his

communion with her that gave him a life of blessed-

ness and a wisdom more than human. However, that

this story resembles many of the very ancient tales

which the Phrygians have received and cherished con-

cerning Attis, the Bithynians concerning Herodotus,the Arcadians concerning Endymion, and other

peoples concerning other mortals who were thoughtto have achieved a life of blessedness in the love of

the gods, is quite evident. And there is some reasonin supposing that Deity, who is not a lover of horses

or birds, but a lover of men, should be willing to

consort with men of superlative goodness, and should

not dislike or disdain the company of a wise and holy

317

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kol aa)<f)povo<; o/JLiXiav. <o? Be Koi <ra>fiaro<;

dvOpcoTTLvov Kol wptt? eVrt rt? Oeo) kol SaC/jLOVL

KOLVcDvia Kol')(^dpL<iy epyov rjBrj Kal tovto

ireLcdrjvaL.

4 KuItol BoKova-LV ovk aTTLddvax; Alyvimoi Biai-

pelv <B9 yvvaLKl fiev ovk dBvvarov irvevfia ttXt)-

(ndaai deov Kai rivaî evreKetv dp')(a<; yeviaecof;,

dvBpl Be OVK eart avfjL/jLi^L<; TTyOo? 6eov ovBe ofiiXCa

<7co/iaT09. dyvoovai Be ore to fityvvfjuevov S

fiCyvvraL rrjv tarjv avrairoBlBcocn KoivcovLav, ov

firjv dWa (f>Ckiav ye irpo^ dvOpwirov elvai Oeai

Kol TOP iirl ravTTj Xeyo/Mevov epcora KaX (ffvofiepov

€t9 iin/jLekeiav rj6ov<; koX dperrjî, irpeirov dv etr).

5 Kal ov TrXr]fjbfjbeXovcnv ol top ôpâvra Kal top

*TdKLv6ov Kal Tov "AB/jLTjTov epcofievov<; 'AttoX-

Xcovc; yeyovivai /jivdoXoyovvT€<i, axTirep av Kal

TOV îKvayviov 'iTTTToXfTOi', « Btj Kal (paaiVt

ocraKL^ Tvxoi BiairXecov et? KCppav e'/c St/cfwz/o?,

TTjv TlvOlav, olov ala-davo/jLevov tov deov Kal

')(a[povTO<;, dirodecnriêiv ToBe to rjpQiov'

Kal B^ av6^ ÎttttoXvtolo ^LXov Kapa et? dXa

âlvei.

6 TiivBapov Be Kal tcjv /jLeXcjv ipaaTrjv yeveaOac

TOV Hdva fivdoXoyovaiv. direBcoKe Be Tiva tl/jlt^v

Kal 'A/o;(;iXo%ft)Kal 'YiaioBw TeXevTrjaaai Blcl tcl^

Mouo-av TO BaniovLov. XocpoKXtl Be kuI â>VTi

3i8

NUMA, IV. 3-6

man. But that an immortal god should take carnal

pleasure in a mortal body and its beauty, this, surely^is hard to believe.

And yet the Aegyptians make a distinction here

which is thought plausible, namely, that while a

woman can be approached by a divine spirit and

made pregnant, there is no such thing as carnal

intercourse and communion between a man and a

divinity. But they lose sight of the fact that in-

tercourse is a reciprocal matter, and that both partiesto it enter into a like communion. However, that

a god should have affection for a man, and a so-called

love which is based upon affection, and takes the

form of solicitude for his character and his virtue, is

fit and proper. And therefore it is no mistake

when the ancient poets tell their tales of the love

Apollo bore Phorbas, Hyacinthus, and Admetus, as

well as the Sicyonian Hippolytus also, of whom it is

said, that, as often as he set out to sail from Sicyonto Cirrha, the Pythian priestess, as though the godknew of his coming and rejoiced thereat, chanted

this prophetic verse :—

"Lo, once more doth beloved Hippolytus hither

make voyage."

There is a legend, too, that Pan became enamouredof Pindar and his verses. And the divine powersbestowed signal honour on Archilochus and Hesiodafter their deaths, for the sake of the Muses.^ Again,

^ The Delphian oracle pronounced a curse on the man whokilled Archilochus, because "he had slain the servant of theMuses." And the same oracle told the people of Orcho-

menus, when a plague had fallen upon them, that " the onlyremedy was to bring back the bones of Hesiod from the land

of Naupactus to the land of Orchomenus."

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tov A(TK\7)7nov iirLêvwOrfvaL \0709 iaTi iroXKa

fiiXP^ Seu/jo hiacroo^cov reKfijjpia, koI reXevrijaavTi

rvêiv Ta(f)ri<i aXko<i Oeo^, co? Xeyerai, Trayoecrêi'.

7 apa ovv aîov iarc, ravra avy')(^copovvTa<; iirl

TOVT(OV, aiTio-Telv el TtaXevKW koX Mti/ft) KaX Zco-

podcTTprj KoX NofMU Kol AvKovpyo) ffaacXeia^

KvBepvwaL Koi 7ro\tT€ia<i BtaKoa-fiovaiv ei^ to

avTO i(f)OiTa to Sai/JLOVLOV, rj tovtol<; /xev elKO^^ iaTi

Kol GirouhdôvTa<i Oeovfs o/jliXclv eirl SiBaa-KaXua

KaX Trapaiveaei tcov ^€Xtl(ttcov, Tro^ryrat? Sk Koi

XvpLKol^ fjLLVvpLôvcnv, CLTTep dpa, %/)^<7ât irai-

8 foz^ra?; el he Xeyei rt? aXXo)?, xaTa Bax^vXiBi^v,** TLXaTeta KeXev6o<;.^^ ovBe yap aTepo<; X070? exet

Tt âvXoVi ov irepl AvKOvpyov xal No/i,a xal

TOLOVTcov aXXcov avBpSiv Xiyovaiv, co? BvaKaOeKTa

Koi Bvadpea-Ta irXydrj '^(êtpovjiievoi,Kal /j.eydXa<;

i7n(f>epovT€<; Tal(; 7roXiTeiat<; /cacvoTo/jLLa^, irpoae-

TTOLrjaavTo ttjv cltto tov Beov Boâv, avToh ixei-

voi's 7rpb<; ov<; e<T')(7]iiaTiôvTo acoTrjpiov ovaav.

V. ÂXXa yap ero<; rjBrj BiaTeXovvTi Ta> Nofia

TeaaapaKocFTov rfKOv diro *V(Ofi7j<i 01 rrpe<j^€L<i

Trapa/caXovvTe^ iirl ttjv âaCXeiav. tou? Be X6-

yov(; eiroirjcraTO IIpo/cXo? ical OveXeao^, u)v irpo-

Tcpov €7rt8ofo9 ^v 6 Bijfio^ alprjcecrOai top CTepov

fiaaiXea, UpoKXrp fiev t&v 'Vco/jlvXov Xa(ov,

OveXea(p Be tmv Tartov fjudXicTTa TrpoaexovTcop.

ovTOi fJiev ovv Ppa-xed BieXexOrioraVt olofievoi, t^

3?o

NUMA, IV. 6-v. I

there is a story, still well attested, that Sophocles,

during his life, was blessed with the friendship of

Aesculapius, and that when he died, another deity

procured him fitting burial.^ Is it worth while, then,if we concede these instances of divine favour, to dis-

believe that Zaleucus, Minos, Zoroaster, Numa, and

Lycurgus, who piloted kingdoms and formulated

constitutions, had frequent audience of the Deity ?

Is it not likely, rather, that the gods are in earnest

when they hold converse with such men as these, in

order to instruct and advise them in the highest andbest way, but use poets and warbHng singers, if at all,

for their own diversion ? However, if any one is

otherwise minded, I say with BacchyHdes," Broad is

the way."^ Indeed there is no absurdity in the

other account which is given of Lycurgus and Numaand their like, namely, that since they were managingheadstrong and captious multitudes, and introducinggreat innovations in modes of government, theypretended to get a sanction from the god, whichsanction was the salvation of tlie very ones againstwhom it was contrived.

V. But to resume the story, Numa was alreadycompleting his fortieth year when the embassy camefrom Rome inviting him to take the throne. Thespeakers were Proculus and Velesus, one or theother of whom the people was expected to chooseas their king, Proculus being the favourite of the

people of Romulus, and Velesus of the people of

Tatius. These speakers, then, were brief, supposing^Dionysus is said to have appeared to Lysander and

ordered him to allow Sophocles to be buried in the tomb ofhis fathers, on the road to Deceleia, then occupied by theLacedaemonian army. See Pausanias, i. 21, 1, with Frazer'snote. 2

Fragment 29 (Jebb, BacchyHdes, p. 423).

321

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

2 No/ta rrjv (Twrvxlav aairaô/Jiiva) yeyovivai' ?]v

B* OV flLKpOV, 0)9 €01K€V, Epyov, ciWa Kol X6y(ov

ttoWmv Koi Ber](T€(o^ to irelaai Kol fxeTaarrjaai

yv(t)/Ji7jv avBpo<; iv '^crvx^f}fcal elprjvr) ^€^lcok6to<;

€t9 oLpxv^ TToXeoD? rpoirov riva koI yeyevrj/jbivrjf;^

iroXifjuo) KoX (TVvr]v^rjfjL€vr]<;. eXeyev ovv rov re 63

7raTpo<; avrov 7rap6vT0<; koI MapKLov, rwv avy-

yevo)v 6v6<;, co? "TLda-a fiev dvOpcoTrtvov filov fjLera-

fioXr) (7(f)aX€p6v' o5 8k (M'^t aTrecrri n t(ov Ixav^v

jMrjTe p^fJLTTTOV €(TTt TCOV TTapOVTCOV, TOVTOV OvBcV

dXXo TrXrjv dvoia pLeraxoafjieL koX /jLediarrjaiv

CK Twv avvÔcov 0I9 Kav el firjEev erepov Trpoaeurj,

3 Tcp jSefiaLoripo) Biacpipec rcov dBrjXwv. aXX* ovBe

dBrfXa rd t7}9 /3aaiX€ia<; T0Z9 'P(op>vXov reKpLai-

popêvw TraOtjiuaaiv, «»9 Trovrjpdv p^v avTo<; eXa/3e

Boâp iiTLôvXevcraL Tq> avvdpxovTt, Taricp, ttovt)-

pdv Be T0?9 6p,oTlp,oi<; irepLeiroirja-ev ct)9 dvypTj-

p,6P0<; VTT aVTMV. KULTOl 'FcOp^vXoV pev OVTOl

iralBa 6ewv vpLvovai (prjpLat,^, /cat TpO(j>'^v riva

BaipôvLov avrov koX acorrfplav diriarov en vrj-

iriov Xiyovaiv ipLol Be koX 762/09 Ovrjrov iart Kal

rpo(f)rj fcai iralBevaifi vir dvOpcoTrcov o)v ovk4 dyvoelre yeyevrjpbevri' rd 3' eiraivovpeva rov rpo-

irov âatXeveiv Troppay peXXovrotXo(ppoavvaL<i el<; ro avro avv-

LovrcDVy rd Be dXXa Ka0* eavroif^ yecopyovvrcov 17

1yeycvriij.4vris Bekker has y€yeyvr)/j.4yr]s {bom), after Cora^

32?

NUMA, V. 2-4

that Numa would welcome his good fortune. It

was, however, no slight task, but one requiring much

argument and entreaty, to persuade and induce a

man who had lived in peace and quiet, to accept the

government of a city which owed its existence and

growth, in a fashion, to war. His reply, therefore,

in the presence of his father and one of his kinsmennamed Marcius, was as follows. "

Every change in

a man's life is perilous ;but when a man knows no

lack, and has no fault to find with his present lot,

nothing short of madness can change his purposesand remove him from his wonted course of life, which,even though it have no other advantage, is at least

fixed and secure, and therefore better than one

which is all uncertain. But the lot of one whobecomes your king cannot even be called uncertain,

judging from the experience of Romulus, since he

himself was accused of basely plotting against his

colleague Tatius, and involved the patricians in the

charge of having basely put their king out of the way.And yet those who bring these accusations laud

Romulus as a child of the gods, and tell how he was

preserved in an incredible way and fed in a miraculous

manner when he was still an infant. But I am of

mortal birth, and I was nourished and trained by menwhom you know. Moreover, the very traits in mydisposition which are commended, are far from mark-

ing a man destined to be a king, namely, my greatlove of retirement, my devotion to studies inconsistent

with the usual activities of men, and my well-known

strong and inveterate love of peace, of unwarlike

occupations, and of men who come togetiier onlyfor the worship of the gods and for friendly inter-

course, but who otherwise live by themselves as

L323

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

6 v€/Ji6vT(ov. vfuv Se, <m ^Vcofjuatoi, ttoWow; fiev to-co?

aôvkrjTov^ airoXekonre 7ro\€fiov<; 'Pft)yu.uXo9, ol<;

avT6p€i8ovTO<; r) vroXt? ifiireipov SecraL âa-tXeco^

Kol cLKfidôvTOf;' iroWrj he koX a-vv-qOeia koX

TTpoOvfiia hC evTV^tav yeyove ra> BiJ/jlm, koI ovheva

XeKrjOev avêaOai koX Kparelv irepcov ôv\6/jLevo<;,

ware xal yeXeo^; av eirj ra/jid, OepaTrevovrof Oeov';,

Kol BiKTjv TCfjbdv, îav he kol TroXefiov iÔaipeiv

hiSd<rKOVTO<; ttoXcp cnpaTrfKaTOV [xaXkov rj âai-

Xeo)? 8eo/jLevr]v.**

VT. ToiovToi<; XoyoL^; d<ô(Tiovfievov rrjv fiaai-

Xeiav rod dvhp6<;, oi re ^Vayfialou iraa-av iiroiovvTo

a-TTOvhrjv dvTiôXovvT€<; koI heopuevot fir) câ?av6i^ eh ardaLv i/nfiaXetv xal iroXefMov €fjL(f>vXiov,

ovK ovTo^ erepov tt/jo? ov dfuporepai avpveixTovcnv

at a-Tdaec^;, 6 re irarrjp koX 6 MdpKiof! ifcelvcov

/jLeracTTdvrcov ISia Trpoa-Kelfjuevot rov NofMciv eirei-

2 dov Bex^cydai fieya koX Oelov Bcopov. "Fd, Be auT09

ovT€ ttXovtov Berj Bi avrdpKecav ovre Boâv dp-

%779 Koi BvvacrT€la<i eî]X(i)Ka<; Kpeiaa-ova Tr)v air

dperi]'; €)(^cov,aXX' virrjpeaLav ye Oeov to â<ri-

Xevetv r)yoviJLevo<i, 09 76 dvi<nrj(Tt Kal ovk id

Kelcrdai koX dpyelv rrjv ev crol roa-avrrjv Bi/caio-

crvvTjv, firj (f)evye firjBe aTroBiBpaa-Ke rrjv dp^-^v,

dvBpl (ppovL/jLO) TTpdêeov KaXcov Kal fieydXcov ov-

aav ')(d)pav, ev y Kal OepairelaL deSiV /neyaXoirpe-

7r6t9 eiai Kal irpo^ evaeêiav dvdpMTrcov rjfiepai-

aet^ paara Kal rdîara pLeraKoafiovfievcov viro

324

NUMA, V. 5-VI. 2

tillers of the soil or herdsmen. Whereas, unto you,O Romans, whether you want them or not, Romulushas bequeathed many wars, and to make head againstthese the city needs a king with a warrior's experi-ence and strength. Besides, the people has becomemuch accustomed to war, and eager for it because of

their successes, and no one is blind to their desire

for growth by conquest. I should therefore becomea laughing-stock if I sought to serve the gods, and

taught men to honour justice and hate violence and

war, in a city which desires a leader of its armies

rather than a king."VI. With such words did Numa decline the

kingdom. Then the Romans put forth every effort

to meet his objections, and begged him not to

plunge them again into faction and civil war, since

there was none other on whom both parties could

unite. His father also and Marcius, when the

envoys had withdrawn, beset him privately, andtried to persuade him to accept so great a gift of

the gods.'^ Even though," they said,

" thou neither

desirest wealth for thyself, because thou hast enough,nor covetest the fame which comes from authorityand power, because thou hast the greater fame whichcomes from virtue, yet consider that the work of a

true king is a service rendered to God, who nowrouses up and refuses to leave dormant and inactive

the great righteousness which is within thee. Donot, therefore, avoid nor flee from this office, whicha wise man will regard as a field for great and noble

actions, where the gods are honoured with magnificent

worship, and the hearts of men are easily and

quickly softened and inclined towards piety, throughthe moulding influence of their ruler. This people

325

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 Tov KpaTovvTo<;. ovroi koI Tdriov earepâv ewTj-

\vv r)êiJb6va, Koi rrjv *l?cop,v\ov fjLvtjfiijv aTTo-

6eov(TL Tol^ TLfial^;. Tt9 5e olZev el fcal vi/ccovri

hrjfi(p TToXifjLOv Kopo^ earl, koX jjLearol dpod/jL^cov

KoX \a(f>vp(ov yeyovore^; r^yefMova irpaov /cal Si/cij^;

iracpov iir^ evvofiia koi elprjvr) TroOovaiv; el Be SyKoX Travrdiracnv aKparoi^; e')(pvai xal fxaviKO)^

irpo^ TToXefiov, ap* ov^l lêXnov ak\a')(ô(Te rrjv

op/jurjv avTcov rpeireiv, Sia %6fcpo9 eyôvra ra^

r)via<;f rfj Be iraTpihi Kal iravTl tm âîvcov edvei

avvBea/jLOV evvoia<; koL (fnXia^ 7rpo<; itoXlv aKfid-4 ôvaav Kal Bvvarrjv yeveaOai;^^ rovroa Trpoarjv,

ft)? Xeyerat, crr}[xeld re ')(p7]crrd koI cnrovBr) r&vTToXiTMV Kal f7}A.09, CO? eirvOovTO rrjv Trpea/Selav,

Beofievcov âBuêcv Kal irapaXa/jL^dvecv rr^v Pacrt,-

Xelav eirl Koivcovia Kal GvyKpdaei tcov ttoXltcov^

YII. 'n? ovv eBeBoKTO, Svaa^ rolf; deoh nrpo-

rjyev et? rr}v 'Vd)/jL7]v. diT'qvTa Be t) ôvXt) Kal 6

Brffio^ epcoTt OavjjLaaTcp tov dvBp6<;, ev<^7]p,iai re

irpeirovaav yvvaiKoiyv eyivovro Kal Ovaiat irpo^ 64

t€/)ot? Kal X^P^ TrdvTcov, uxrirep ov âaiXea t?}?

TToXew?, dXkd /SacriXelav Be')(ôp^vri<^. iirel Be et?

Tr)v dyopav Karea-Trjo-av, 6 jneu ral^ copaL^ eKeivaL<;

avveiXrj'x^M'i pêaoâa-LXev^ %7r6pLooveireBcoKe tol<; TroXtVa^? Kal irdvre^ ijveyKav,

7rpoa(f)epo/jLevo)V 8' avrw tmv âaiXcKCJV irapa-

a7]fjb(ov eiria-'xêLv KeXevaa^ eîj BelaOai Kal 6eov2 TTjv âaiXeiav ifiireBovvTO^ avrw, irapaXa/Soov

^ iroXirwp MSS. and edd., including Sintenis^. Bekkercorrects to ttJacwj' [cities), and is followed by Sintenis'^.

p6

NUMA, VI. 3-VI1. 2

loved Tatius, though he was a foreign prince, and

they pay divine honours to the memory of Romulus.And who knows but that the people, even thoughvictorious, is sated with war, and, now that it is

glutted with triumphs and spoils, is desirous of a

gentle prince, who is a friend of justice, and will

lead them in the paths of order and peace ? But if,

indeed, they are altogether intemperate and mad in

their desire for war, then were it not better that

thou, holding the reins of government in thy hand,shouldst turn their eager course another way, andthat thy native city and the whole Sabine nation

should have in thee a bond of goodwill and friend-

ship with a vigorous and powerful city ?"

These

appeals were strengthened, we are told, by auspiciousomens and by the zealous ardour of his fellow-

citizens, who, when they learned of the embassyfrom Rome, begged him to return with it and assumethe royal power there, in order to unite and blend

together the citizens.

VII. Numa therefore decided to yield, and after

sacrificing to the gods, set out for Rome. Thesenate and people met him on his way, filled witha wondrous love of the man ; women welcomed himwith fitting cries of joy ; sacrifices were offered in

the temples, and joy was universal, as if the city were

receiving, not a king, but a kingdom. When theywere come down into the forum, Spurius Vettius,whose lot it was to be " interrex

" ^ at that hour,called for a vote of the citizens, and all voted for

Numa. But when the insignia of royalty were

brought to him, he bade the people pause, and said

his authority must first be ratified by Heaven. Then1 Cf. chapter ii. 7.

327

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Be jjuavrei^ koI UpeU dve/Satvev et? to Kuttl-

tcoXlov TapTTijiov avro \6<f)ov ol rore 'PcofjualoL

7rpo(T7j<y6p€Vov. ivravda rwv fidvT€cov 6 irpco-

revcov rov fiev eU jjL€aT]/j,/3piav Tp6yjra<; iyKe/caXvp.-

fxevov, avTOf; Be irapaaraf; eôiriaOev /cal rfj Beîd

rrj<i KecâXr;^ icpaTrrofJuevo^ avrov Karevâro, /cal

irepLeaKoireL ra irapa rcov OeMV ev olwvol<; rj

(TVfjL^6\oL<; 7rpo(l)aLv6fji€va, 7ravTa')(^6a-€ Ta<; oi/ret?

3 7rept(f)€pa)V. acyrj Be a7n(TT0<; ev TrXrjdei, roaovrw

TTjv ayopav fcarelê KapaBoKovvrwv koI avvaico-

pov/jLevo)v T(p fjueWovTi, P'^XP^ ^^ 'Trpov<j>dvr}<Tav

opvide^ dyadoi /cal Be^Lol eTrerpey^rav.^ ovrco Be

TTjv fâcTikiKrjv dvaXa^cov eadyjra /careâive

No/>ta? eh to ttXtjOo^ diro tt}^ aKpa^. rore Be

ical <f)coval Kal Be^ccoaei^ rjaav co^ evaeêaTUTOv/cal Oeo^tXecTTaTov Beôp'evcov,

4 UapaXaffcov Be Tr)v dp)(r)v irpcoTov /lev to tS)v

TpLaKo(Tto)v av(TT7]p,a BiiXvaev, ov<; *Pa)p,vXo^

e%a)i^ ael irepl to aS)p,a KeXepa? Trpoarjyopevaev,

oirep €(TtI Tax^h' ouTe yap aTTLaTetv Trca-Tevovatv

cure paaiXeveiv dinaTovvTayv rjîjv. BevTepovBe T0L<; ovciv lepevai Aio<; Kal ''Apecoî rpiTov

'VcopjvXov Trpoa-zcarea-Trja-ev, ov ^XafjuLva Kvpi-5 vdXiov odvopâcrev. i/cdXovv Be /cal tov<; irpoyeve-

(TTepov<; ^XdfjLLva^ diro tmv Trept/cpavLcov iriXcDV

ov<; irepl Talopov(Ttt iriXa/jieva';

Tivdfi oWa?, CO? l(TT0p0V(Tl, T(OV 'KXXrjvi/ccov ovo-

fidT(OV T'OTe fjuaXXop r) vvv T0t9 AaTLVOi^ dvaKeKpa-pbkvtov. Kal yap a? €<f)6povv ol lepei<f Xaiva<i 6

^ KoX 5e{tol iirerp^âv with S : koI denial ko2 ivirpe^par.

328

NUMA, VII. 2-5 •].

taking with him the augurs and priests, he ascendedthe Capitol, which the Romans of that time called the

Tarpeian Hill. There the chief of the augurs turnedthe veiled head of Numa towards the south, while

he himself, standing behind him, and laying the

right hand on his head, prayed aloud, and turnedhis eyes in all directions to observe whatever birds

or other omens might be sent from the gods. Thenan incredible silence fell upon the vast multitude in

the forum, who watched in eager suspense for the

issue, until at last auspicious birds appeared and

approached the scene on the right. Then Numaput on his royal robes and went down from thecitadel to the multitude, where he was received with

glad cries of welcome as the most pious of men andmost beloved of the gods.

His first measure on assuming the governmentwas to disband the body of three hundred menthat Romulus always kept about his person, andcalled "Celeres" (that is, swift ones^) ; for he wouldnot consent to distrust those who trusted him, norto reign over those who distrusted him. His secondmeasure was to add to the two priests of Jupiter andMars a third priest of Romulus, whom he called

the Flamen Quirinalis. Now before this time theRomans called their priests "flamines," from the

close-fitting"

piloi," or caps, which they wear upontheir heads, and which have the longer name of"pilamenai," as we are told, there being more Greek

words mingled with the Latin at that time than now.^

Thus also the name "laena," which the Romans

^ Cf . Romvlufi, xxvi. 2.* Cf. Eonmlus, xv. 3. Plutarch does not hesitate to derive

the Latin '*flamines" from the doubtful Greek "pilamenai."

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

*l6l3a^ %Xatiâ9 (fyrjcrlv elvat, koI tov virrjperovvra

T(p lepel rod Aio? a/jLCpiOaXrj iralha Xiyeadat

KcifMiXkov, ct)9 Kol TOV 'Rpfirjv ovr(o<; evioi t(op

*KX\.i]vcov J^djjLiWov^ airo t^? BiaKovia^ Trpoo-rj-

fyopevov,

VIII. Tavra Be 6 No/i-a? €7r' evvoia koX '^^dptri

TOV BrjpLOV 7ro\iTevadfievo<; ev6v<i e'ire')(êip€L ttjv

TToXiVy odairep a-iBrjpov, i/c o-K\rjpa<; kol iroXe-

/JLIKTJ^ fidXaKcorepav irovrjaai koI SiKaiorepav.

dT€)(^v(a<; yap fjv TlXdrayv diTOKaXel (^Xeyfiai-

vovaav ttoXlv eKeivrj tot tjv, arvardaa ixev €vdv<;

ef dp')(r)^ ToXfirj Tivl Koi nrapaôXo) OpaavrrjTLroiv Opacrvrdrcov Kal /na^LpLcordrayv eKel iravra-

2 yoQev waafjuivcov, rat? Be vroWat? arpareiaLfs /cal

T0i9 (Tvve')(ê.at, iToXepiOL<; rpocpjj ')(p7](TafJLevr}kol

av^TJaei Trj<; Bvpd/Jbeo)^, kol KaOdirep ra fcaTairr]-

yvvfjbeva r^ aeieaOai, fidXXov kBpdêTai, poov-vvadav BoKOvaa Bid tcov klvBvvcov. ovtco Br)

fierecopov /cal TeTpa')(yixevov Brjfiov ov fMt/cpd<; ovBe

<j>avXr]<; olofMevo^ elvat, irpayfiareia^^ yLt6Ta%€i/9t-

aaaOaL Kal /jLeraKoa/jiTJcrat irpo<; elprjvqv, eiTTjyd-

3 yeTo Tr)v diro rwv 6ea>v ôrjOeiaVt ra pêv iroXXa

Ovaiai^ Kal iropîrah Kal 'Xôpeiav^, a? avro<;

wpylaae Kal Kareo-rrjaev, d/ma aepvorrjTt Bia-

yoDyrjv e'wi'Xjapiv Kal (j)iXdi'6p(orrov rjBovrjv e')(pv-

aaL^, Brf/jLaycoycov Kal riOaaevcov ro OvpoeiBef; Kal

^tXoTToXepôv' ecTTi 8* ore Kal (j)6/3ov<; nvdî diray-

yiXXcov iraph rov deov Kal (pdapâra Batp,6vcov

dXXoKOTa Kal ^ci)vd<; ovk evp-evel^;, iBovXov Kal

^KdfxiWoy deleted by Bekker ; corrected to KaS/xiXov by

Siiitenis \

NUMA, VII. 5-viii. 3

give to the priestly mantle, Juba says is the same as

the Greek " chlaina"

; and that the name Camillas,which the Romans give to the boy with both parents

living who attends upon the priest of Jupiter, is the

same as that which some of the Greeks give to

Hermes, from his office of attendant.

VIII. After taking such measures to secure the

goodwill and favour of the people, Numa straight-

way attempted to soften the city, as iron is softened

in the fire, and change its harsh and warlike temperinto one of greater gentleness and justice. For if a

city was ever in what Plato calls ^ a "feverish"

state,

Rome certainly was at that time. It was broughtinto being at the very outset by the excessive daringand reckless courage of the boldest and most warlike

spirits, who forced their way thither from all parts,and in its many expeditions and its continuous warsit found nourishment and increase of its power ;

and

just as what is planted in the earth gets a firmer

seat the more it is shaken, gf) Rome seemed to be made

strong by its very perils. And therefore Numa,judging it to be no slight or trivial undertaking to

mollify and newly fashion for peace so presumptuousand stubborn a people, called in the gods to aid andassist him. It was for the most part by sacrifices,

processions, and religious dances, which he himselif

appointed and conducted, and which mingled withtheir solemnity a diversion full of charm and a

beneficent pleasure, that he won the people's favourand tamed their fierce and warlike tempers. Attimes, also, by heralding to them vague terrors fromthe god, strange apparitions of divine beings and

threatening voices, he would subdue and humble* Cf. Lycuryusy v. 6.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

raireLurjv iiroLei rrjv Bidvoiav avroov viro BeicTiBat'

4 fwvuas. ef a)v koX fidXcara Xoyov eaêv rj

aofptu Kal Tj Tralhevcn^ rod dvhpo^, co? UvOayopaavyy€yov6To<;. fiiya yap rjv fiipo'i, ft)? eKeivw r^?

^L\o(To<j>ia<i, Kol TovTM Trj<; TroXtre/a? rj irepl ro

Oelov dyta-reia^ koX Siarpi/Si]. Xeyerat he /cat

TOP e^cadev oyxov /cal(T')(r)fjLaTi(T/jLov cltto T7j<;

5 avrrjf; TlvOayopa Biavola^ TrepcâXea-Oai. Kal 65

yap iK€Lvo<i derov re Bo/cei Trpadvai, (ôavaifi riaiv

iiTLCTTrjaaî Kal KaTayaycov uTrepCTrrd/jievov, tqv t€

fir^pov virocfyTJvat ^/oucoui/ 'OXv/jLirlaa-i Biairopevo-

fjL6vo<; TTjv iravriyvpiv' dX\a<; re repardoSec^ /jltj-

')(avd^ avTov Kal irpdêif; dvayyeWovaiv, 60* at?

Kal Tl/jl(i)v 6 ^\t,d(TLO<; eypayjrc'

HvOayopTjv Be yoTjraf; diroKXivovT eirl B6âô/xa Bpdfia 6ed<; tlvo^ rj vvp.<^r)(; 6peia<s

e/0ft)9 r^v Kal (Twovaia 7rpo<; avrbv diroppr^roîy

Siairep etpijTai, Kal Koival fierd Movacop Bia-

Tpifiai. ra yap TrXeto-ra rcov fiavrevfidrcov eUMoutra? dvfjye, Kal fiiav yiovaav lBi(aep6vTa)<i iBiBaê aepeaOat rov<; 'P(o/jLaiov(;,

TaKLTav TTpoaayopevaa^, olov crL(07rr)\r]v rj evedv

oirep elvai Bokcl rrjv JJvdayopeiov dTrofivrj/juopev-

ovTO<; i')(ê/JLvdlav Kal Tifi6t)VT0<;.

7 "EfTT* Be Kal TCL irepl rcov d(l)t,Bpv/j,dTeov vofio-

BerrjpâTa TravrdiraaLV dBeXcpd tojv TlvBayopov^

ayia-reia Bryan's correction, after Amyot, adopted byCoraes and Bekker : hyx^ffreia {relationship).

NUMA, VIII. 3-7 I

their minds by means of superstitious fears. This

was the chief reason why Numa's wisdom and culture

were said to have been due to his intimacy with

Pjrthagoras ;for in the philosophy of the one, and in

the civil polity of the other, religious services and

occupations have a large place. It is said also that

the solemnity of his outward demeanour was adoptedby him because he shared the feelings of Pythagorasabout it. That philosopher, indeed, is thought to

have tamed an eagle, which he stopped by certain

cries of his, and brought down from his lofty flight ;

also to have disclosed his golden thigh as he passedthrough the assembled throngs at Ol3nnpia. Andwe have reports of other devices and performances of

his which savoured of the marvellous, regardingwhich Timon the Phliasian wrote :

—" Down to a juggler's level he sinks with his cheating

devices.

Laying his nets for men, Pythagoras, lover of

bombast."

In like manner Numa's fiction was tlie love which a

certain goddess or mountain nymph bore him, andher secret meetings with him, as already mentioned,^and his familiar converse with the Muses. For heascribed the greater part of his oracular teachings to

the Muses, and he taught the Romans to pay especialhonours to one Muse in particular, whom he called

Tacita, tiiat is, the silent^ or speechless one ; therebyperhaps handing on and honouring the Pythagoreanprecept of silence.

Furthermore, his ordinances concerning imagesare altogether in harmony with the doctrines of

*Chapter iv. 1-2.

333i^v vc

LVOL. I. M

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Soy/JLCLTeov. ovre yap eKetvo^; alaOrirov rj Tradrjrov,

aoparov Be koX aKTiarov ^ koI votjtov VTrekdfi-

fiavev elvai to Trpcorov, owto? re SiefccoXvaev

dvOpcoTToetBrj KoX t^wofiopôv eiKova Oeov *Vwp,ai-

ov<i vofjuiêiv. ov8' r)v Trap* avTol'^ ovre ypairrov8 ovT€ irXacrrov elBo^ Oeov irporepov, aXX ev

eKUTov €ffBop.7]KOvra tol<; irpdyroL^^ erecTL vaov<;

/lev oLKoBo/Jbovfievoi koI KaXidBa<; i€pa<; larcovre*;,

dyaXfUt Be ovBev efifiopcfyov Troiovfievoi BierekoWt

a)9 ovre oaiov d(f)o/juoLovv ra jSeXrCova to?? xîpoaipovre €(f)d7rTea6ai Oeov Bvvarov aXkws rj vorjaei,

KOfiiBrj Be Koi rh rwv Ovgtlcov exerai tt)^ livOa-

yopLKr]v evre-

Xea-rdrcov 7re7roir)p,evac.

9 Xa)/Dt9 Be Tovrcjv erepoi^ e^coOev iirayctivlôinai

T€K/jLr)pi,oL<;ol TOP dvBpa tcS dvBpl avvoiKeiovvTe^;.

MV ev fJLev iorriv on UvOayopav ^Fwfzaloi rjj

irokLTeia Trpoareypayfrav, <09 IcrroprjKev Ê7rL-)(âpfio<;

6 kco/jllko^; ev tlvl Xoyco irpo^^

KvTrjvopa yeypapL-

fievo), iraXaLoî dvrjp Kal Trj<; YivOayopLKTj^ Bia-

Tpi,0r]<; peT€o-')(r)KQ)<i' erepov Be on reaadpeov vlcov

âaiXel Nofid yevopievwv eva Mdpêp/cov eirl rw10 llvOayopov TraiBl irpocr^jyopeua-ev, dir eKeivov

Be Kal rov AlfjuLktcov oIkov dva/nLxOevra roU

irarpiKLOt'; ovo/JLao-Orjval (paatv, ovt(o<; viroKopLô-

fievov Tov â(Tc\eco<; rrjv iv Tot? \6yoL<; rov avBpo<i

alfjUvXtav Kal ydpLV. avrol 8' dKTjKoafiev iroXX&v

ev 'Fcofiy Bie^tovrcov on ')(prjapou wore 'V(op.aioL^^ Akthttop Sinteni8^ with AC, followed by Bekker:

iKi)paTov (unmixed).

334

NUMA, viii. 7-10

Pythagoras. For that philosopher maintained that

the first principle of being was beyond sense or

feeling, was invisible and uncreated, and discernible

only by the mind. And in like manner Numaforbade the Romans to revere an image of Godwhich had the form of man or beast. Nor was

there among them in this earlier time any paintedor graven likeness of Deity, but while for the first

hundred and seventy years they were continually

building temples and establisliing sacred shrines,

they made no statues in bodily form for them, con-

vinced that it was impious to liken higher things to

lower, and that it was impossible to apprehend

Deity except by the intellect. Their sacrifices, too,

were altogether appropriate to the Pythagorean

worship ; for most of them involved no bloodshed,

but were made with flour, drink-offerings, and the

least costly gifts.

And apart from these things, other external proofsare urged to show that the two men were acquaintedwith each other. One of these is that Pythagoraswas enrolled as a citizen of Rome. This fact is

recorded by Epicharmus the comic poet, in a certain

treatise which he dedicated to Antenor ;and Epichar-

mus was an ancient, and belonged to the school of

Pythagoras. Another proof is that one of the four

sons born to king Numa was named Mamercus, after

the son of Pythagoras. And from him they say that

the patrician family of the Aemilii took its name,Aemilius being the endearing name which the king

gave him for the grace and winsomeness of his speech.

Moreover, I myself have heard many people at Romerecount how, when an oracle once commanded the

335

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fyevojuivov top (fepovL/xcorarov Kal rov avBpeioraTOv

*EtWrjvcov Ihpvaaadai Trap* avrolî, eaTTjaav iirl

T^9 dyopcif; eiKOva^ x^^'^^^ ^^^> '''V^ /^^^ ÂXkl-

ffidBov, Tr)v Be Uvdayopov. TavTa fiev ovv

d/jL(f)ia^'rjTi]a€L<s eôvTa iroWa^ koI to KLvelv Bid

fiaKpojepQjv Kal to TrcaTovaOat ^fiecpaKicoBov;

€(7tI (pL\ov€iKla<;.

IX. NofjLo, Be Kal TTjv twv dpxiêpecov, oi><; Hovri-

<f)LKa<; Ka\ov(TL, BidTaîv Kal KaTaaTaatv diroBiBo-

aac, Kal âacv avTov eva tovtcov tov TrpcoTov yeyo-vevai, KeKXrjcrdaL Be tou? IlovTL(j)LKa<; ol fiev oti

T0U9 Oeov<; Oepairevovai BvvaTov^ Kal Kvplovf; dirdv-

tcov ovTa^' 6 yap BvvaTO'^ vtto 'Vcofiaicov ovo/j-dêrai

2 7roTi;v9* €T6poi Be (pacri tt/jo? vireâipeaiv yeyo-vevat Touvojjia tmv BvvaTcov, co? tov vofjuodeTov Ta9

BvvaTa^ eiTiTeXelv lepovpycas^ tou? lepels KcXev-

ovToî dp Be y tl fccoXv/jba fjuelôPy ov avKocpav-

T0VPT0<:. ol Be TrXelcTTOL fidXiaTa Kal to yeXco/xepov

T(ov opo/jbaTcop BoKLfidôvcTip, 0)9 ovBep dXX*rj

yecpvpoTToiov'i tov<; dpBpa<; iiriKXTjOepTa^; ajro tmp

woiov/jbepcop irepl ttjp ye^vpap lepwv, dytcoTaTcopKol TraXatoTCLTcop optcop' iroPTep, yap ol Kajlpoi

3 Tr)P ye(pvpap opo/jLaôuaip, elvai fjueproL Kal ttjp

TrjprjaLP avTr]<; Kal ttjp iTrcaKevj^p, wairep dXXo tl

T03P dKLPi'jTOdP Kal TTaTplcop Upcop, 7rpoa7]Kov<Tap

T069 lepevaLP. ov yap de/xcTOP, aXV iirdpaTOP

rjyela-daL ^PcofiaLOV<; ttjp KaTdXvaip t?59 ^vXiprjf;

ye(fivpa<s, XeysTat Be Kal to Trd/juTrap dpev aiBtjpov

^ viarovaOai a correction of Reiske's, accepted by Coraând Bekker : viartvtadai {believe).

I NUMA, VIII. lo-ix. 3

Romans to erect in their city monuments to thewisest and the bravest of the Greeks, they set up in

the forum two statues in bronze, one of Alcibiades,and one of Pythagoras.

^ However, since the matterof Numa's acquaintance with Pythagoras is involvedin much dispute, to discuss it at greater length, andto win belief for it, would savour of youthfulcontentiousness .

IX. To Numa is also ascribed the institution of

that order of high priests who are called Pontitices,and he himself is said to have been the first of them.

According to some they are called Pontifittes

because employed in the service of the gods, who are

powerful and supreme over all the world ; and"potens

"is the Roman word for powerful. Others

say that the name was meant to distinguish between

possible and impossible functions ; the lawgiver en-

joining upon these priests the performance of suchsacred offices only as were possible, and finding no fault

with them if any serious obstacle prevented. Butmost writers give an absurd explanation of the name ;

Pontifices means, they say, nothing more nor less

than bridge-builders, from the sacrifices which theyperformed at the bridge over the Tiber, sacrifices of

the greatest antiquity and the most sacred character;for "

pons"

is the Latin word for bridge. They say,

moreover, that the custody and maintenance of the

bridge, like all the other inviolable and ancestral rites,

attached to the priesthood, for the Romans held thedemolition of the wooden bridge to be not onlyunlawful, but actually sacrilegious. It is also said

*According to the elder Pliny (iV.^. xxxiv. 12), these

statues stood in the comitium at Rome from the time ofthe Samnite wars (343-290 B.C.) down to that of Sulla

(138-78 B.C.).

337

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Karh St; ri Xo'yiov avyyeyofn^MaOai Zih rwv

^vXwv. T) Be Xidivrj ttoWoI^s varepov iêipydcrOTj

4')(p6voL<;

VTT AI/jL'Xlov ra/uLievovTO^. ov fihv dWhKoi rr)v ûXivyjv tmv No/jud ')(^povwv dTroXeiirecrOaL

Xiyovaiv, viro MapKLOV rov Nop-d dvjarpiBov

âaiXevovTOf; diroreXeaOelaav,

'O he /xe^tcrTO? twv Uovrt^cfccov olov i^rjyrjrov

Kal 7rpo(j}i]roVt p,dXXov Se lepocpdvrov rd^cv etXrj-

êVy ov povov^ Twv hr^poata Bpcopeveov iTrcpueXov-

p,evo<;, dXXd koX rov<; ISlo, dvovraî eTnaKOTrcov Kal

/ccoXvojv irapeKâiveiV rd vevopiapeva, Kal BiBd-

(TKWV OTOV Tt9 BioLTO TT/OO? 6e(t)V TLprjV Tf TTapaC-

5 TTjaiv, Tjv Be Kal twv iepSiv TrapOevcov e7ricrK07ro<;i

a? 'EcTiaSa? irpoaayopevova i. lôpa yap Br) Kal

Tr)v T(ov *K(TTt,dB(i)v 7rap6evcov Kadcepcocnv Kal

6Xco<i Tr]v irepl to irvp ro dOdvaroVy o (pyXdrrovaivavrai, depaireiav re Kal TLp^rjv diroBiBoao-LV, etre

o)? KaOapdv Kal dcfydaprov ttjv tov irvpoî ovaiav

dfcrjpdroLfi Kal dpidvToi<i TrapariOepêvov acopaa-iv,

etre to aKapiTov Kal dyovov Tt] TrapOevla avv-

oiK€LovvTO(;. eirei rot tt)? 'EX-Xaô? ottov irvp

daêcTTov eaTiv, co? UvOot Kal^

AOrjvqaiVy ov

irapOevoL, yvvalKeî Be ireTravpLevaL ydpayv e')(ovai>

6 Tr]V i7np.eXeiav' edv Be vtto tu;)^t;9 Tivo<i eKXiTrr},

Kaddirep^

Kdr]vr](Ji pêv eirl tt)? WpLaTLcovo^;

XeyeTai TvpavvLBo^ dTToaêadrjvai, tov lepov

XifXyov, ev AeXôt? Be tov vaov KaTa7Tpr)(70evTO<fVTTO M'^Boyv, irepl

Be Ta MidpiBaTiKa Kal tov

epcpvXcov 'Pcopaicov iroXepov dp,a tw fiojp,^ to

^fiSuov with most MSS. (including S) and edd. : ix6v<av.

NUMA, IX. 3-6

that it was built entirely without iron and fastened

together with wooden pins in obedience to an oracle.

The stone bridge was constructed at a much later

period, when Aemilius was quaestor.^ However, it is

said that the wooden bridge also was later than thetime of Numa, and was completed by Ancus Marcius,the grandson of Numa by his daughter, when he was

king.The chief of the Pontifices, the Pontifex Maximus,

had the duty of expounding and interpreting thedivine will, or rather of directing sacred rites, not

only being in charge of public ceremonies, but also

watching over private sacrifices and preventing anydeparture from established custom, as well as teachingwhatever was requisite for the worship or propitiationof the gods. He was also overseer of the holy virginscalled Vestals ; for to Numa is ascribed the consecra-

tion of the Vestal virgins, and in general the worshipand care ofthe perpetual fire entrusted to their charge.It was either because he thought the nature of fire

pure and uncorrupted, and therefore entrusted it to

chaste and undefiled persons, or because he thoughtof it as unfruitful and barren, and therefore associated

it with virginity. Since wherever in Greece a

perpetual fire is kept, as at Delphi and Athens, it is

committed to the charge, not of virgins, but of

widows past the age of marriage. And if by anychance it goes out, as at Athens during the tyrannyof Aristion '^ the sacred lamp is said to have been

extinguished, and at Delphi when the temple wasburned by the Medes, and as during the Mithridatic

and the Roman civil wars the altar was demolished

1 179B.C.* 88-86 B.C. Cf. LuculluSf xix. 6 ; Sulla, xiii. 3.

k339

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irvp r)<fiavia6r}, ov <f)aai Setv utto erepov irvpo^

ivaveadat, /caivov Be TroLelv /cal veov, avd'movTa<;

CLTTO Tov rfKiov (f)\6ya Kadapav koI afiiavTov.

7 iâTTTOvcTL Be fidXiara to?? a/ca(f)eiOL<i, a xara-

(TKevdêrai fiep aTTo irXevpa^ laoaKeXov^ opdoyco-vLov Tpijcovov Koikaivofieva, crvvvevei 5' el<; ev ck

T^9 TrepKpepeLaf; Kevrpov. orav ovv Oiatv evavriav

Xd/Sy irpbf; tov rfkiov, Scrre ra? avya^; nravra-

yoBev dvatcoTTTOiMeva^; dOpoiêadav koI (Tvpbirke-

KeaOac rrepl to /cevrpov, avrov re BiaKpivei rbv

dipa XeirrvvopêvoVt koL rd KovôTara /cal ^ypo-rara rcov TrpoariOe/jLivcov 6ê(D<; avdinet Kara

TTjv dvT6pei(TiVf oroypa /cal irXrjyrjV irvpcoBr) t^98 avyrj(; Xa/Souarj^;. evioi pi,ev ovv ouBev vtto tcov

lepoiv irapOevwv dX^C rj to daffearov i/celvo

(f)povp6LaOai TTvp vopbiôvdLV* evLOL Be elvai rivd

iâaiv dOeara Tot? dXXoc<; lepd /cpvirropêva, irepla)v oca Kol TrvOeadac /cal <j>pdaai OepLcrov ev toJ

Ka/ztWou /Slw yeypaiTTai.X. WpwTov pkv ovv virb No/xa /caOcepcjdrjvat

Xeyovai, Veyaviav /cal Beprjviav, Bevrepov Be

KavovXrjtav /cal Tapirijtav varepov Be %ep^LovBvo irpoaOevro^ dXXa<; Ta> dpiO/xw Biarrjpeia'dai^

fiexpt T<wi/ ^(^povwv TOVTCov TO irXrjdo^. aypiaOr} Be

Tah lepaU irapOevoi^ vtto tov âatXecot; dyveia

TpiaKovTaeTt<i, ev y Trjv pev irpooTrjv Be/caeTiav a

y^pT] Bpdv puavOdvovai, Tr)v Be p,ear)v a pê/naO^/caa-L

Bpooac, TTjv Be TpuTrjv erepa^ avTal BiBdaKOvcLv.

2 elTa dvecTttL Tjj jôvXo/nevr} jneTa tov 'x,povov tov-1

SiaTT)p€iff0cu the correction of Coraea, adopted by Bekker :

Siar7jpr}<rai,

NUMA, IX. 6-x. 2

and the fire extinguished, then they say it must notbe kindled again from other fire, but made fresh andnew, by lighting a pure and unpolluted flame fromthe rays of the sun. And this they usually effect bymeans of metallic mirrors, the concavity of which is

made to follow the sides of an isosceles rectangulartriangle, and which converge from their circum-ference to a single point in the centre. When, there-

fore, these are placed opposite the sun, so that its rays,as they fall upon them from all sides, are collected

and concentrated at the centre, the air itself is

rarefied there, and very light and dry substances

placed there quickly blaze up from its resistance,the sun's rays now acquiring the substance and force

of fire. Some, moreover, are of the opinion that

nothing but this perpetual fire is guarded by thesacred virgins ; while some say that certain sacred

objects, which none others may behold, are kept in

concealment by them. What may lawfully be learnedand told about these things, I have written in myLife of Camillas.^

X. In the beginning, then, they say that Geganiaand Verenia were consecrated to this office byNuma, who subsequently added to them Canuleiaand Tarpeia ; that at a later time two others wereadded by Servius, making the number which has

continued to the present time. It was ordained bythe king that the sacred virgins should vow them-selves to chastity for thirty years ; during the first

decade they are to learn their duties, during thesecond to perform the duties they have learned, and

during the third to teach others these duties. Then,the thirty years being now passed, any one who

*Chapter xx. 3-6.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tov TjSi] Kol yd/jôv fi6ra\afi/3dv6iv xal tt/oo? ere-

pov rpaTriadac 6lov, diraWayeiar) t?}? lepovpylaî,

Xeyovrat, he ov TroWal ravrrjv dairdcraaOat rrjv

dSetav, ovSe da-iracrap.evaL^ 'x^prjard irpdy/jLara

avvTV')(elvt dWd pberavoia koI KaT7](f)€La avvovcrai

TOV XoLTTov fiiov ep^lSaXelv rd'^ dK\a<; eh SetcnSai-

pôvLav, ware pe^pt y^p(o<; teal davdrov BiareXelp

iyKaprepovaaî /cat irapdevevop.eva^;,3 TiyLta? Be pueydXa^ direBcoKev avrah, mv ecrr*

KoX TO BcaOeaOai fwt'To? eêlvai irarpof; fcal rdX-Xa Trpdrreiv dvev irpoa-raTov Biayouaa^, toa-irep

al TpL7raLBe<;. papBoj>')(ovvTat Be irpoiovaaL' fcdv

dyopLevcp tlvI Trpo? ddvarov avTopdrco^ gvvtv")((0'

Giv, ovK, dvaipetTai. Bel Be diropoaai ttjv irap-Oevov aKOvaiov fcal TVâuav kol ovk eêiTirr]Be<;

yeyovevai rrjv aTravTrjaiv. 6 Be vireXOcov Kopilô- 67

4 pevo)v VTTO TO cf>opeLov dTro0v)]cT/cet. K6Xaai<; Be

Tcov puev dXXcov dpapTrjpaTcov TrXrjyal Tah irap-

OevoL^tTOV p.eyi(TT0V UovTi(piKo^ KoXdôvTo<; eaTLv

ore icaX yvpuvrjv ttjv TrXrjppeX'^craaav, o6ovr)<; ev

iraXLvaKicp 'JTapaTewopeprj<:' rj Be ttjv iTapOeviav

KaTaLa'xvvaaa ^coaa KaropvTTeTaL irapd t7]v

KoXXivrjp Xeyop,evrjv ttvXtjv ev y ti<; ecTTiv evTo<i

T?}? TToXew? 6(f)pv<; ye(oBr)<; irapaTeivovaa iroppay6 KoXeiTaL Be %w/xa BiaXeKTw Ty AaTU (ov. evTavOa

KaraaKevdêTUi KaTdyeio<; o7ko<; ov peya<;, e)(wvdvcodev KaTapaaiv. Kelrai B\ ev avTM kXuvtj re

virea-TpcopevT) koI Xv)(vo<; Kaiopevoî, d'irap)(aL t€

TMV 77^09 TO ^TJv dvayKaiwv Ppax^lai Ttva, olov

dpTo<;, vB(op ev dr^yeiwy ydXa, eXaiov, wairep

d<f)0(Tiovpev(jov TO pLy XipLO) Bia(f)6eipeiv acopa Tal<;

6 p€yl(TTai<; KaOiepcopLevov dyiaTeiai^, avTrjv Be

342

NUMA, X. 2-6

wishes has liberty to marry and adopt a different

mode of life, after laying down her sacred office.

We are told, however, that few have welcomed the

indulgence, and that those who did so were not

happy, but were a prey to repentance and dejectionfor the rest of their lives, thereby inspiring the rest

with superstitious fears, so that until old age and

death they remained steadfast in their virginity.

But Numa bestowed great privileges upon them,such as the right to make a will during the life time

of their fathers, and to transact and manage their

other affairs without a guardian, like the mothers of

three children. When they appear in public, the

fasces are carried before them, and if they ac-

cidentally meet a criminal on his way to execution,

his life is spared; but the virgin must make oath

that the meeting was involuntary and fortuitous, and

not of design. He who passes under the litter on

which they are borne, is put to death. For their

minor offences the virgins are punished with stripes,

the Pontifex Maximus sometimes scourging the

culprit on her bare flesh, in a dark place, with a

curtain interposed. But she that has broken her

vow of chastity is buried alive near the Colline gate.

Here a little ridge of earth extends for some distance

along the inside of the city-wall ; the Latin word for

it is "agger." Under it a small chamber is con-

structed, with steps leading down from above. In

this are placed a couch with its coverings, a lighted

lamp, and very small portions of the necessaries of

life, such as bread, a bowl of water, milk, and oil, as

though they would thereby absolve themselves from

the cliarge of destroying by hunger a life which had

been consecrated to the highest services of religion.

343

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rrjv Ko\aôfi€V7jv et? (popelov evOefxevoi koI Kara-

aT€yd(TavT€<; e^codev kol KaraXaôvrt^ ifxaatv, cw?

//.TySe (fteoPTjv eôLKovarov 'yevecrOaiy KOfiiôvai hi

ayopdf;. e^LaTavrai Se 7Tdvre<i (tlcotttj koI irapa-

7r€fjL7rov(riv aÔoyyoi fierd tlvo^ heivr}<^ Kar7]^€La<i'

ovBe iarlv erepov Oeafjua (ppiKTorepoy, ovh* rj/iipai'

7 7} TToXt? ak\i]v ayei arvyvorepav iK€Lvrj<;. orav

Se 7r/909 rov tottov Kop,ia6fi to ôpelov, ol fiev

vTrrjpirat rou? BecriJ,ov<; iîXvaav, 6 8e roiv lepecov

eâp)(ô<; ev^d^ Tiva<; aTroppTJrovf; Trotrjadfievof; kol

')(€Lpa<; dvareiva^; 6eoL<i irpo tt}? dvdyKr}^, i^dyei

(TvyK€Ka\vp,fievr)V koI KaOidrrjaLV iirl KkifiaKo^

et9 TO OLfcrjfia Kdrco (pepovaij^. elra avro^ fiev

dTTOTpeTrerai. pêra Tcav dWcov lepecov rrj<; Be

KaTa,8dar)<; rj re fcXipâ^ dvaipetrai koX Kara-

Kpvirrerai, to otfc^jpa yrjî ttoXXt}? dvcodev ein<ôpov-

/îvV^, a)<rTe laoirehov rco Xoltto) ')(cop,aTi yeveaOatrov TOTTOV. ovTco p,6v at TTpoep.evai ttjv lepav irap-

OevLav KoXdôvTai.XI. No/ia? Se XeyeTat /cat to t?}? 'Eo-r/a? lepov

iyKVKXtov irepiâXeaOaL tw uaêaT(p irvpl (f)pov-

pdv, dTropi/JLOvp,€vo<; ov to a')(rjp.a t^9 7^? O)?

'Eo-Tta9 ovar}^, dXXa tov avp.iravTO^ Koapôv, ov

pêcrov ol TlvdayopLKol to irvp IBpvaOai vop,itôvai,

2 Kol TovTO *EaTLav KaXouai kol p,ovdBa' tî/ ê

yr]v ovTe aKLvrjTOV ovt€ iv p,e(TW t?}? 'ir€pi<j)opa<;

ovaav, dXXa kvkXw irepl to irvp alcopovp.evr]v ov

T(OV TipiODTdTWV OvSc TCOV ITpOiTWV TOV KO(Tp.OV

popiwv vTrdpêiv. TavTa Be kol TlXdTwvd (paori

TTpea^vrrjv yevofievov BiavevorjaOat. irepl t^9 7^9

344

I

I

NUMA, X. 6-xi. 2

Then the culprit herself is placed on a litter, over

which coverings are thrown and fastened down withcords so that not even a cry can be heard from within,and carried through the forum. All the peoplethere silently make way for the litter, and follow it

without uttering a sound, in a terrible depression of

soul. No other spectacle is more appalling, nor does

any other day bring more gloom to the city thanthis. When the litter reaches its destination, the

attendants unfasten the cords of the coverings. Thenthe high-priest, after stretching his hands towardheaven and uttering certain mysterious prayers before

the fatal act, brings forth the culprit, who is closely

veiled, and places her on the steps leading downinto the chamber. After this he turns away his face,

as do the rest of the priests, and when she has gonedown, the steps are taken up, and great quantitiesof earth are thrown into the entrance to the chamber,

hiding it away, and making the place level with the

rest of the mound. Such is the punishment of those

who break their vow of virginity,XI. Furthermore, it is said that Numa built the

temple of Vesta, where the perpetual fire was kept,of a circular form, not in imitation of the shape of

the earth, believing Vesta to be the earth, but of the

entire universe, at the centre of which the Pythago-reans place the element of fire, and call it Vesta

and Unit. And they hold that the earth is

neither motionless nor situated in the centre of sur-

rounding space, but that it revolves in a circle aboutthe central fire, not being one of the most important,nor even one ofthe primary elements of the universe.

This is the conception, we are told, which Plato also,

in his old age, had of the earth, namely that it is

345

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

0)9 iv erepa X^P9 KaOe(Tr(oar]<;, Tr)v Be /jlScttjv kuI

Kvpicordrijv erepa) rivl KpeuTrovi rrrpoatjKOvaav.

XII. Ot Be IlovTi(j)tK€<; Koi ra irepl ra? racpct^

Trdrpia TOi<; 'x^pyôvcTLV d(l>r)yovvrat, Nofia BtBd-

âvTO^ fjurjBev r/yeiaOat fiLacrfia T(av tolout(ov,

dWd Kal Tou? eKel Oeov<; a-eêcrOac Tot<; vcvo/jll-

afievoi<;y <W9 rd KVpicoTara tmv rjfieTepcov viroBexo-

fievovf;* iâi,peT(i)<; Be ttjv Trpoaajnpevo/Jbivrjv Ai-

pLTLvav, eiriaKoirov tmv irepl tov^ dvrjCTKOVTa^

oaicov Oeov ovaav, elVe Uepaecpovijv elVe fidWov,©9 ol XoyiMTaTOL ^Voy/jialcov VTroXa/jLJSdvovcnv,

ÂcftpoBiTTju, ov KaK(o<; €i9 /^ta9 Bvva/jLtv Oeov Td

irepl ra? yeveaei^ koX Ta9 TeXevTa^ dvdiTTovTe';.

2 avTo^ Be koI rd irevOif] Kad^ rj\iKLa<; Kal 'X^povov^

CTaêv olov iralBa fit) irevOelv vecoTCpov TpteTov^,

fi7)Be irpeafivrepov irXeuovas /jLrjva<; cav e/Sicoaeu

ivtavTGJv P^XP'' '^^^ BeKa, koI TrepaLTepco p,r}B€'

pbiav r)\iKiav, dWd tov pâKpordrov irevOov^

Xpovov elvai BeKapLrji lalov, e<^* oaov Kal XVP^^'ova IV at TMV diToOavovTcov yuvacKe^;. r) Be irpo-

Tepov yaprÔelaa ôvv eyKvp,ova KareOvev eKeivov

vopio9err}(TavTO<i.

3 TloWd<; Be Kal dX\a<; No/Lta KaTuBeiâvTO^

lepcoavva^ €TI Bvelv pLvrjaOrjaopâi, t^9 re âXicov

Kal T7J<i Tcov îTiaXecoVt ac p^dXiara rrjv evae-

Beiav TOV dvBpo^ ep^âivova-LV. ol p,ev ydp^LTiaXelf; elpr)vo(^vXaKe^ Tcve<; ovt€<;, et)9 3' epôl

BoKelf Kal Tovvofia XaôvTe^ diro t^9 irpdêcoîf

346

NUMA, XI. 2-xii. 3

established in a secondary space, and that the central

and sovereign space is reserved for some other andnobler body.

XII. The Pontifices also explain and direct theancestral rites of burial for those who desire it, and

they were taught by Numa not to regard any suchoffices as a pollution, but to honour the gods belowalso with the customary rites, since they receive into

their keeping the most sovereign part of us, and par-

ticularly the goddess called Libitina, who presidesover the solemn services for the dead, whether she is

Proserpina, or, as the most learned Romans maintain,Venus ; thereby not inaptly connecting man's birth

and death with the power of one and the same god-dess. Numa himself also regulated the periods of

mourning according to ages. For instance, over achild of less than three years there was to be no

mourning at all;over one older than that, the

mourning was not to last more months than it hadlived years, up to ten ;

and no age was to be mourned

longer than that, but ten months was the period set

for the longest mourning.^ This is also the period

during which women who have lost their husbandsremain in widowhood, and she who took anotherhusband before tiiis term was out, was obliged by thelaws of Numa to sacrifice a cow with calf.

Numa also established many other orders of priest-

hood, of which I shall mention two, besides, those of

the Salii and the Fetiales, which more than any others

give evidence of the man's reverent piety. TheFetiales were guardians of peace, so to speak, and in

my opinion took their name from their office, whichwas to put a stop to disputes by oral conference, or

^ Cf. chapter xix. 1.

M7

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

\07ft) TO, veLKT) Kareiravov, ovk icovTe<i crrpareveLv

TTporepov Tj Trdcrav iXTriSa 5//cr/9 aTTOKoirrjvai,4 Kol yap elpr)vi-jv "KX\.r]V6<; KaXovcriv orav \6yq),

fiT) pia, TTpoî aXKrj\ov<; ^/)ft)/x6i/ot \v<j(ocn ra^

hLa(ôpd<^. ol he 'Fco/jbaicov <t>iTia\eL<; nroWaKL^

fiev i0dBiôv ft)? Tou? d8iKovvTa<; avrol ireLOovre';

evyvcopôvelv dyvwpôvovvTcov Se fiaprvpdfjLevoL

deoix;, Kal Karev^dpêvoi TroWa koI Beiva Ka6'

avTOiv avTol Kal tt}? TraryOtSo? el pr) Bi/caico^

eTTeîaaiVt ovrco Kari^yyeWov avrol^ tov iroXepov.5 KcoXvovToyv Be rovrcov 7) prj avvaivovvrwv, ovre

(TTparicoTTj OepiLTOV oijre âcriXel 'PcopaLwv oirXa

KLvelv, dXka irapa tovtwv eBet rrjv dpxrjv tov

iroXepov Be^dpêvov C09 BtKalov rov apôpra, rore

(TKOTTelv irepl tov avpuêpovTo^, XeyeTUi Be kol

TO KeXTifcov eKetvo irdOo^ ttj iroXet yeveaOaiTovrcov Twv lepewv Trapavopbi-jOevTwv.

6 ^Ktvôv p,ev yap ol ^dpâpoi li^Xovatvov<;

7roXiopKovvTe<i' €7rep(f>0rj Be Tr/oecrySeuT^? 't>dBLO<;

"ApLôva-TO^ eh to aTpaToireBov BtaXva-ecq irpd^cov

vTrep Tcov TroXtopKovpevcov. Xafioiv Be diroKpi-

<76i9 OVK eTTLeiKeh fcal irepa<^ 0"%^^^ avT(p ttjp

irpea/SeLav olopevo^, eveavievaaTO irpo tcov KXov-alvcov 07r\a Xaôov irpoKuXeaaaOai tov dpiaTev-

7 ovTU Tcav âpfidpcov. tcl pev ovv T779 pdxn'^

evTvyeiTO Kal /caTa/SaXfov ecTKvXevcre tov dvBpa-

yv(opiaavTe<; Be ol KeXrot TrepLTrovciv eh 'Fcoprjv

KrjpvKa tov â/Siov KaTijyopovvTef; 0)9 eKcnrovBov

Kal aTTLO-Tov Kal aKaTdyyeXTOV €^€V7}vo^6to<} 7ry009

avTov<i TToXepov. evravOa tijv pev avyKXrjTovol îTiaXeh eTreidov iKBiBovai top avBpa Toh

3^8

NUMA, XII. 3-7 :<1

parley'^',and they would not suffer a hostile expedition

to be made before every hope of getting justice had

been cut off. For the Greeks call it peace when two

parties settle their quarrels by mutual conference^and not by violence. And the Roman Fetiales often

went to those who were doing them a wrong andmade personal appeals for fair treatment ; but if the

unfair treatment continued, they called the gods to

witness, invoked many dreadful evils upon themselves

and their country in case they resorted to hostilities

unjustly, and so declared war upon them. But if theyforbade it or withheld their consent, neither soldier

nor king of Rome could lawfully take up arms. Warhad to begin with their verdict that it was just, andthe ruler, on receiving this verdict, must then de-

liberate on the proper way to wage it. And it is

said that the dreadful disaster which the city ex-

perienced at the hands of the Gauls was in conse-

quence of the illegal treatment of these priests.For when the Barbarians were besieging Clusium,

Fabius Ambustus was sent from Rome to their campto bring about a cessation of hostilities on behalf of

the besieged. But on receiving an unseemly answer,he thought his office of ambassador was at an end,and committed the youthful folly of taking up armsfor the Clusians and challenging the bravest of the

Barbarians to single combat. Fabius fought suc-

cessfully, unhorsed his adversary, and stripped him of

his armour. But when the Gauls discovered who he

was, they sent a herald to Rome denouncing Fabius

for violating a truce, breaking his oath, and fighting

against them before war was formally declared. AtRome the Fetiales tried to persuade the senate to

>Connecting the name with fateri, fari, to tspeah.

349

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

KeXrot?, /caracpvycbv S^ eKelvof; eU rov^ ttoWou?Kal ra> hrffiw airovhaôvrt '^prjadfievoî Siexpov-craro rrjv Slktiv. per oXtyov Se eireXOovTe^ ol

KeXrot TTjv 'Pcofiijv irXrjv rod KairtroyXlov Sie-

TTopOrjaav. dWa ravra pep iv tol<; irepl Ka-

/jblWov pbdWov aKpiôvrai.XIII. Tou? 3e ]SaXtou9 lepetî ix rotavTrjf;

Xiyerai avarâaa-Oat irpot^daeco^, eTO<i oySoovavTov âaiXevovTOî XoifiooBrjt; v6ao<^ irepuovaaTTJV ÎraXiav earpo^rjae Kal tt)v *F(op,r)v. dSv-

flOVVTCOV Se TCOV dvOpCOTTCOV l(TT0p6LTaL ')(âXKr)V

TriXrrjv ef ovpavov Karacpepopevrjv eh Td<i No/xaireaelv yeipa*;. eVt Be avrfj 6avp,dai6v riva

Xoyov Xeyeadai vtto rov iSaaCXew^, ov ^Yiyepia^2 T6 icaX rwv yiovawv TrvOiaOai. to pev yap ottXov

rjKeiv iirl acorrjpia T779 iroXeco^, Kal Belv avro

^povpeladai yevopîvcov dXXwv evheKa Kal axv/^^Kal pbeye6o<^ Kal p,op(f)r)v eKelvw irapaTrXTjalcov,

OTTco? aiTopov etr) Ta> KXeiTTr) Be opLOLorrira rov

Bi07r€Tod<i i7nrv)(€tv' ert Be XPV^^^ Mouo-a.f?

KadtepSiaai top^toDtoi^

eKelvo Kal tov<; irepl avTO

X€Lp.(oia<;, OTTOV ra ttoXXcl (jiOLTaxrai avvBtaTpl-

fiovatv avTO). ttjv Be irrjyrjv rj KaTdpBei to

ycdpi'OV, vBo)p lepov diroBecâi TaU 'â-Tiaai irap-

6evoL<^y OTTW? Xap/Sdvovcrat Kad' rjp,€pav dyvl^wat3 Kal paivwai to dvaKTopov. TovTOi<i pLev ovv

pâpTVprjaai Xeyovai Kal to, tt)? voaov irapa-

Xprjpa iravadpLeva. ttjv Be TreXTrjv irpodevToâvTOV Kal KeXevaavTO<; dpbLXXdoOat tov^; tcxvItu^

virep T779 opLOtoTTjTo^, TOt'9 piev dXXov^ direLiTelv,

OveTovpiov Be Mapuovpiov eva tS>v aKptov Brjpn-

ovpycov ovTco^ eipiKeaOai, Trj<; ipiêp€La<i, Kal

350

NUMA, XII. 7-X111. 3

deliver Fabius into the hands of the Gauls, but hetook refuge with the multitude, and through thefavour of the populace evaded his punishment. Aftera little, therefore, the Gauls came up and sacked

Rome, with the exception of the Capitol. But this

story is more fully given in my Life of Camillus.^

XIII. The priesthood of the Salii Numa is said

to have been estabhshed for the following reason.

In the eighth year of his reign a pestilence, whichtraversed Italy, distracted Rome also. The story

goes that while the people were disheartened bythis, a bronze buckler fell from heaven, which cameinto the hands of Numa, and a wonderful account of

it was given by the king, which he learned from

Egeria and the Muses. The buckler came, he said,for the salvation of the city, and must be carefully

preserved by making eleven others of like fashion,

size, and shape, in order that the resemblancebetween them might make it difficult for a thief to

distinguish the one that fell from heaven. He said

further that the spot where it fell, and the adjacentmeadows, where the Muses usually had converse with

him, must be consecrated to them; and that the

spring which watered the spot should be declared

holy water for the use of the Vestal virgins, whoshould daily sprinkle and purify their temple withit. Moreover, they say that the truth of all this

was attested by the immediate cessation of the

pestilence. When Numa showed the buckler to theartificers and bade them do their best to make others

like it, they all declined, except Veturius Mamurius,a most excellent workman, who was so happy in his

imitation of it, and made all the eleven so exactly*Chapters xvii.-xxii.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

KaTa(TK€vd(Tai irdaa^; 6/JL0La<i, wcrre firjB^ avrov

€Ti Tov Nofidv Siayivooa/ceiv. tovtcop ovv (f>v-

\aKa^ Koi d/jLCpLTrokovfi aTriBeiê tou9 XaXlov<:

4iepelf;. XaXioi Be ixXtjOrjaav, ov)^, co? evLOi

fivOoXoyovai, 'âjjuoOpaKO'^ dvhpo<^ r) Mavrivicof;,

ovofia Xakiov, irpairov Tr)V evoirXiov e/cStSafai/ro?

6pxn<^f'^* dWa fidWov dirb tt}? 6p^r)ae(i3<; avrr)^,

oXrLKrjf; ovcrrjf;, rjv virop'XôvvTai SiaTropevofievoi

TTjv TTokiv, orav ra? i€pa<; ireXra^ dvaXd^coaiviv Tft) MapTLO) firjvL, <ôi,viKov<; fiev ivBehvjxevoi,

^^TfDz^tcTACOu?, fjLLTpatf; Bk ')(d\.KaL^ iTre^coa-fiivoL 69

ifkareiaL^ kcu Kpdprj 'âXxd ôpovvT€<;, €7%€i/9«-

5 Biot^; Be iJbtKpoLT€<;. r) Be dWrjT^9 6pxv(^€co<;, €\iy/iiov<; nva^ kol /jL€Taô\d<; iv

pvOpuw Td')(p<; e'XôvTt koX Trv/cvoTrjra fjuerd pcofirjf;

KOL Kov^6Tr)TO^ d7roBiB6vr€<;.

AuTCT9 Be rd<; ireXra^ dyKvXia KaXovai Bid to

HT')(rjfia' kvkXo<; yap ovk eariv ovBe dTToBiBroaiv,

(W9 TreXTTj, TTJV Trepicpepeiav, dXX' iKTOfirjv eêi

ypa/jLfjLrjBov<;, ^9 at Kepa2ai Ka/ii7rd<; eôv-aat Kal avveTTLarpiipova-ai rrj TrvKvorrjri 7r/?09

6 dXX7]Xa<; dyKvXov to a')(rjfia iroiovaLv rj Bid tov

dy/ccova irepX ov irepiêpovTai,, TavTa ydp 6

^\6Pa<i €Lp7)Ke yX^xôfxevo^s eêXXr^viaai TovvopLa,BvvaiTO B^ dv Trj<i dvefcaOev <f)Opd<; irpcoTov eTrcovv^

fjLov yeyovevai, Kal tt)? dKeaeco<; tcov voaovvTcoVf

Kal TTjf; TMV av')(jJLO)V Xv(T€(o^, 6Ti Be Tri<; t(ov

BeivSiv dvaaêaew^y Kad^ o Kal tou9 AiojKovpov<;

85*

NUMA, XIII. 3-6

like it, that not even Numa himself could distinguishthem. For the watch and care of these bucklers,

then, he appointed the priesthood of the Salii. Nowthe Salii were so named, not, as some tell the tale,

from a man of wSamothrace or Mantinea, named Salius,

who first taught the dance in armour ; but rather

from the leaping^ which characterized the dance it-

self. This dance they perform when they carry the

sacred bucklers through the streets of the city in the

month of March, clad in purple tunics, girt with

broad belts of bronze, wearing bronze helmets on

their heads, and carrying small daggers with which

they strike the shields. But the dance is chiefly a

matter of step ; for they move gracefully, andexecute with vigour and agility certain shifting

convolutions, in quick and oft-recurring rhythm.The bucklers themselves are called "ancilia,"

from their shape ;for this is not round, nor yet

completely oval, like that of the regular shield, but

has a curving indentation, the arms of which are

bent back and united with each other at top and

bottom ; this makes the shape"ancylon," the (jreek

for curved. Or, they are named from the elhofv on

which they are carried, which, in Greek, is" ankon."

This is what Juba says, who is bent on deriving the

name from the Greek. But the name may comefrom the Greek "anekathen," inasmuch as the

original shield fell yrom on high; or from "akesis,"because it heated those who were sick of the plague ;

or from " auchmon lysis," because it put an end to the

drought; or, further, from "anaschesis," because it

brought a cessation of calamities, just as Castor andPollux were called Anakes by the Athenians; if,

^ The Latin "salire," to leap.

353

k

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

"AvaKaf; ^KBrfvaloL 7rpo(T7]y6p€V(rav, €i ye Bel 7rpo9

T?)y 'FiWvviKr)v BiaXe/cTov i^dyeiv rnvvo/jia.

7 To) Be Ma/JLOvpLO) Xeyovav /jlktOov yeveadai ttj^

Te'xy'q^ ifceivT]^ fiv/j/jLrjv rivh BC coS/}? viro rcav

âXucov cLfia rfj Trupplxj) BLairepaivofxevr]^. ol Be

ov Overovpiov Ma/juovpiov elval(f)

lat rov dBo-

fjLevov, aWa overepep. /lefiopiafi, oirep iarif ira-

\atav fivrj/J>r)v,

XIV. *E7r€t Be BieKocr/jbrjae ra<; iep(oavva<^y eBei-

fULTO irXrjaLov rov t^9 'Eo-rta? lepov ttjp koKov-

fjuevrjv *Vr)yLav, olov rt, /SacrlXeLOV OLKrjfia' xal to

irXeicTTOv avroOi rov y^povov Bcerpiêv lepovpytov

rj BiBda/ccov tou? lepei^; rj tt/jo? evvoia rivl rdv

6ei(ov irpo^ avrov <7yoXd^cov. oIkluv B*et;êj/

erepav irepX top K^vplvov X6(j)ov, 77? ert vvv rov

TOTTov einBeiKvvova-Lv. ev Be ral<; TrpoTro/jLTral^

Koi oXco<i T(t3v lepecDv rat? TrofiTraU irporjyovPTO

/C7]pvKe<; dva rrjv ttoXlv eXivveiv KeXevovTe<i kol

2 ra epya /cararravovre^;. co? yap (fyacri, tov<;

UvOayopCKov<; ovk eav etc irapoBov irpocTKvvelv

Kol TTpoaev-xêaOai T049 OeoL<;, dXX* oiKodev evOvêirl TOUTO yvcfOfirj irapearKevaaiJLevov^ âBlêiv,ovTCD^ a)€TO NoyLta? ^(^prjvai Tov<i TToXtra? fitJTe

CLKoveiv TITCJP Oeiwp p,r)re opap ev irapepy^ xap

ayLte\<W9, dXXa <txo^^]P dyopra<^ aTro rwp aXXccX

Kol TrpoaeyoPTa^ ttjp Btdpoiap co? Trpdêt fieyLo-Trj

Tj) irepl TTfP evcreêcap, yjrocfioyp re xal iraTdywpKoX (TTepayfMMPy koi oaa Toiavra Toh dvayicaioLf;Kol âpavdOL^ iropoa eTrerat, Ka9apd<^ ra? 6Bovp l^po^ ti pêyp^

354

NUMA, XIII. 6-xiv. 2

that is, we are bound to derive the name from the

Greek.We are told that Mamertius was rewarded for his

wonderful art by having his name mentioned in a

song which the Salii sing as they perform their war-

dance. Some, however, say that the song does not

commemorate Veturius Mamurius, but ^'veterem

memoriam," that is to say, ancient remembrance.

XIV. After Numa had thus established and

regulated the priestly orders, he built, near the

temple of Vesta, the so-called Regia, or royal house.

Here he passed most of his time, performing sacred

functions, or teaching the priests, or engagedin the quiet contemplation of divine things. Healso had another house on the Quirinal hill, the site

of which is still pointed out. At all public andsolemn processions of the priests, heralds were sent

on before through the city, bidding the people make

holiday, and putting a stop to all labour. For, justas it is said that the Pythagoreans do not allow mento worship and pray to their gods cursorily and bythe way, but would have them go from their homes

directly to this office, with their minds prepared for

it, so Numa thought that his citizens ought neither

to hear nor see any divine service while they were

occupied with other matters and therefore unable to

pay attention. They should rather be free from all

distractions and devote their thoughts to the

religious ceremony as a matter of the highest

importance. They should also rid their streets of

noise and clatter and clamour, and all such accom-

paniments of menial and manual labour, and clear

them for the sacred ceremonies. And the Romansstill preserve some traces of this earlier feeling.

355

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

vvv Bia(T(oôvT6<;, orav apâiv irpo^ opvicrtv r) 6v-

alai^; BiarpL^Tj, ôcbcnv **'^0a: a76*'* (T7]p.aiv6i he r)

(pcovT)** TovTO 7r/oacr<76," avveTnarpecôvaa kol

KaTaicoapôvaa tov<; 7rpo(TTvy^dvovTa<;.3 'Hi/ Be KoX Tcov aWcov TrapayyeX/jLaToyv avTOV

iroWa TOi? Tlv9ayopLKOL<i eocKora. co? yap ixel-

vol irapyvovv eVl')(ôivLKO(; firj KaOrjaOat, xal

fia'âlpa irvp fir) afcaXeveiv, Kol fiaSiôvra^ eh

airoBrjiJLiaf; /jLtj fieraaTpecfyeaOai, KaX rot? fiev

ovpavLOi<; irepiacra Oveiv, apjia Be Tol<i ')(^9ovloi<;,

d)v eKOLCTTOV TTjv Bidvoiav direKp-uTTTovTO irpbî

Tou? TToXXou?, ovTco(; evia rSiV No/nd iraTpLcov

cLTTopprfrov exêb rov Xoyov olov to firj airevBeiv

deo2<; ef dfiTreXcov dTp.r]Tcov fi7)Be Oveiv drep

d\(f)LT(ov' Kal TO TTpoaKuvecv 7r€piaTp€(j)OfjLevou<;

4 Kal TO KaOrjaOai 'TTpoaKvvr)cravTa<;. to, (lev ovv

irpcoTa Bvo ttjv yrj<; i^rjfiepcoatv eoiKC BiBdatceLV,

CO? jjbopiov evo-eêia^ ovaav »; Be irepiG-Tpocfyr} tcov

irpoaKvvovvTwv XiyeTat jiev dTTopLi/ir}(TL<; elvac t^9Tov KocTfJbov 7r€pi(popd<i, Boêie 6' dv fxaXXov 6

TrpoaKvvcopy iirel Trpof; eco tS)v iepa>v ^XeirovTcov

dTrea-TpaTTTaL Td<; dvaToXd<;, peTa^dXXecv eavTOV

ivravda Kal TrepiaTpecbeip eirl tov Oeov, kvkXovTTOLOiV KaX (TvvdirTwv Tr)v eTTiTeXelwcLV t^9 ^^X^l^

5 BC d/ji<j)olv' elfjLT) vr) Ata rot? Alyu7rTL0L<; Tpo)(oc<i

alviTTeTai tl Kal BcBdaKet, TrapairXTjaiov rj fieTa- 70

fioXrj TOV o-%?;7taT09, o)? ouBevo<; €o-twto<? rail/

dvOpwiTivwv, dXX! 07r«9 dv aTpecpy koI dveXtTTr)TOV pLov r)p,ct)v 6 Oe6<;, dyairdv Kal Be-)(ê(Tdai

TTpocrfjKov. TO Be KaOeêaOai irpoo-KwrjcravTa'^

olcovia/jLov elvai Xeyovai rod fiefiaioTtjTa ral^

3S6

I

NUMA, XIV. 2-5

When a magistrate is busy taking auspices or sacri-

ficing, the people cry" Hoc age/' which means

"Mind this," and helps to make the bystandersattentive and orderly.

Many of his other precepts also resembled those

of the Pythagoreans. For instance, the Pythagoreanssaid: ''Don't use a quart-measure as a seat";" Don't poke the fire with a sword

";

" When you set

out for foreign parts, don't turn back" ;and ''To

the celestial gods sacrifice an odd number, but an

even number to the terrestrial"

;and the meaning of

all these precepts they would keep hidden from the

vulgar. So in some of Numa's rules the meaning is

hidden ; as, for instance," Don't offer to the gods

wine from unpruned vines"

;

" Don't make a

ipacrifice without meal"

;

" Turn round as you

"isvorship"; and "Sit down after worship." Thefirst two rules would seem to teach that the sub-

jection of the earth is a part of religion ; and the

worshippers' turning round is said to be an imitation

of the rotary motion of the universe ;but I would

jrather think that the worshipper who enters a

temple, since temples face the east and the Sun,has his back towards the sunrise, and therefore

turns himself half round in that direction, and then

wheels fully round to face the god of tlie temple,thus making a complete circle, and linking the

fulfilment of his prayer with both deities; unless,

indeed, this change of posture, like the Aegyptianwheels, darkly hints and teaches that there is no

stability in human affairs, but that we must accept

contentedly whatever twists and turns our lives mayreceive from the Deity. And as for the sitting downafter worship, we are told that it is an augury of the

357

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

€u%at9 fcal Biafjbovrjv rol<; dyaOol^ iTnylveadai.

Xiyovai Be /cal irpdêcov hiopLafiov elvac rrjv

6 uvdiravaLV oo? ovv rfj irporepa irpdêi irepa<^

iinTLdipTaf; KaOeêaOai irapa tol<; êot?, cva

krepa^ TtdXiv dp')(r)v Trap' iKelvcov Xdâyai. Svpa-

rai he kol tovto rot? €lpr]jjLevoi<; ofiokojelv, iOi-

ôvTOf; rjiJucL^rov vo/uLoOerov fir) iroceiaOai, Ta9 tt/jo?

TO delov ivreuêi^ iv da-)(ô\ia /cal irapepyox; olov

cnr€vSovTa<;, dX)C orav 'X^povov e^co/iep Kala')(ô\r]V

dywfxev.XV. 'E/c 5e T^9 TOLavrrff; '7raiBayG}yLa<; 7r/)09

TO Oetov ouTa>9 17 ttoXk; iyeyovet yeLporjOr)^ Kal

Karareda/jL^rjfiivT) ttjv rov Noyita Bvva/jLiv, ware

p,v6oi^ ioiKOTa^; rrjv droTTLav \6yov<; irapa-

Bex^(^^î'> ATCtt vopiêiv firjBev diricTTOV elvac fii-jBe

2 dfirjxavov i/cetvov fiovXvfievTO^;. Xeyerat yovvirore KaXeaaî iirl rr)v rpdireâv ovk oXuyov^ rcov

ttoXltcov, (TKevr) re (pavXa /cal Belirvov euTeXe?

irdw TrpoOicrOai Kal Btj/jloti/cov dpâp,6pa)V Be

Beiirvelv e/jL/SaXoov Xoyov co? rj deo<; y avveanv

7]/coi TTô? avTov, al(f)ViBiov eiTiBelâi tov re olkov

e/cirwpidTwv TrXijpy TroXvTeXaiV /cal Ta? T/oavrefa?

oyjrcjv re TravroBaTrcjv Kal TrapaaKevi)^ Ba'yjnXovf;

3 yefJLOixra^. irdaav Be viTepê(3Xi-]Kev droiriav

ro vTTep rrj<; rov Afo? opiXia^ lcrropovp,evov.

fjLvdoXoyovdi yap el<; rov^

Aêvrlvov X6<f)ov ovTray

pepo<^ ovra ri]<i TroXeco? ovBe (tuvolkov/i€vov, aWeyovra 7rr]yd<; re Ba'\ln,XeL^ iv avrw Kal vdrra^

aKL€pd<i, (fyoordv Bvo Bai/jL0va<;, YIIkov Kal âvvovov<; rd fiev d\Xa ârvpcov dv Tt? rj Uavayv yeiec

TrpocreiKdaeie, Bwdfiei Be (f)app.dK(ov Kal BeLVorrjrL

rrj<; irepl rd O^la yo7]T€La<i Xeyovrai ravrd roh

358

NUMA, XIV. 5-xv. 3

acceptance of the worshipper's prayers and the

duration of his blessings. VVe are also told, that, as

different acts are separated by an interval of rest, so

the worshipper, having completed one act, sits downin the presence of the gods, in order that he maybegin another with their blessing. But this, too, can

be brought into agreement with what was said

above : the lawgiver is trying to accustom us not to

make our petitions to the Deity wheh we are busied

with other matters and in a hurry, as it were, but

when we have time and are at leisure.

XV. By such training and schooling in religiousmatters the city became so tractable, and stood in

such awe of Numa's power, that they accepted his

stories, though fabulously strange, and thoughtnothing incredible or impossible which he wishedthem to believe or do. At any rate, the story goesthat he once invited a large number of the citizens to

his table, and set before them mean dishes and a

very simple repast ; but just as they began to eat, he

surprised them by saying that the goddess with whomhe consorted was come to visit him, and lo, on a

sudden, the room was full of costly beakers and the

tables were laden with all sorts of meats andabundant furniture. But nothing can be so strangeas what is told about his conversation with Jupiter.Wlien the Aventine hill—so runs the tale—was not

yet a part of the city nor even inhabited, but aboundedin springs and shady dells, two demi-gods, Picus and

Faunus, made it their haunt. In other ways these

divinities might be likened to Satyrs or Pans, but

they are said to have used powerful drugs and

practised clever incantations, and to have traversed

359

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

v(p* *EWrjva)v irpoaayopevOeiatv 'ISatot? Aaxrv-4 Xot? (TO(j)t^6/i€Voc irepuevai rrjv ÎraXlav. rovrov;

âal )(^6tpcoo-a76aL rov Noyu-ai^, olVcr) kuI pLeXiri

Kepaaavra rrjv Kpyjvrjv d(p^ r)<; einvov avvrjOco^,

\r}<\>devTa^ Be TroXXa? /jlcv ISia^ rpeireaOaL koX

IxereichveaOai rr)v avrcov <f>v(nv, dWofcora (f)d(T-

jiara kciI (poêpd r^? oyjrerof} 7rpoâ\Xop,6vov<;*eVet Be eyvcoaav eaX&j/core? layypav Kai a(j)VKTOVdXwaLVf aXXa re TrpoOeaTTiaaL iroWd tmv fjueK.-

Xovrcov KoX TOP iirl tol^ K€pavvot<; iKBiBdât

KaOap/iov, 09 TTOielraLpie^^^pt

vvv Bid Kpojx/jLvcov

5 KOL rpi'xoiv KoX pLaiviBwv. evioi Be ov tou?

Baip,ovd<; (pacrLV vTroOecrdat rov /caOappiov, aW*iK€iVov<i pev Karayayelv rov Aua fjayevaavra^;,rov Be Oeov opyiôpevov rat Nopbd irpoardaoreivci)9 %P^ yeveaOai rov KaOappov Keâkal^' vtto-

Xaôvro^ Be rov No/â,**

KpopLpivoav ;

"elireiv,

" dv6pcoTTcov'^^ rov Be avOt^; eKrpeirovra to rov

Trpoardj/jiaro^; Betvov eirepecrBai, "dpiîv;^' dTTO-

Kpivapievov Be rov Ai6<;,"e/xi/ruô^?," eirayayelv

rov ôpLav,"

piaivicri, ;

^'

ravra Xeyeiv vtto t%6 ^Hyepiaf; BeBiBaypbevov. koI rov puev Oeov drreX-

detv 'lXgco yevopuevov, rov Be rorrov ÎXlkiov drr^

eKeivov irpoo-ayopevOrjvaL koX rov KaOappov ovrco

avvreXelaOai. ravra puev ovv rd pivOcoBrj fcal

yeXola ri]v rcov rore dvOpcarrcov eTrcBeiKVvrai

BidOecrtv tt/oo? rb deiov, tjv 6 eOiaph^ avrol<;

iveiTOiijaev. avrov Be rov Nopdv ovrco (paalv elf;

ro Oelov dvrjprrjaOat rat? iXTrlcriv, ware xal

7rpo(TayyeXta<; avrcp irore yevopLevrj^ cw? irrep-

Xovrai rroXepuLOL, pueiBidaai Kai elirelv "'Eyo) Bh

Ovay."

360

NUMA, XV. 3-6

Italy playing the same tricks as the so-called Idaean

Dactyli^ of the Greeks. These demigods Numa is

said to have caught, by mixing wine and honey with

the water of the spring from which they were wontto drink. When captured, they dropped their ownforms and assumed many different shapes, presentinghideous and dreadful appearances. But when theyperceived that they were fast caught and could not

escape, they foretold to Numa many things that

would come to pass, and taught him besides the charm

against thunder and lightning, which is still practisedwith onions, hair, and sprats. Some, however, saythat it was not the imps themselves who impartedthe charm, but that they called Jupiter down fromheaven by their magic, and that this deity angrilytold Numa that he must charm thunder and lightningwith "heads." "Of onions?" asked Numa, filling

Out the phrase," Of men," said Jupiter. Thereupon

Numa, trying once more to avert the horror of the

prescription, asked, "with hair.?" "Nay," answered

Jupiter, "with living—"

"sprats?" added Numa, as

he had been taught by Egeria to say. Then tlie godreturned to heaven in a gracious mood,—"hileos," as

the Greeks say,—and the place was called Ilicium

from this circumstance ; and that is the way the

charm was perfected. These stories, fabulous andridiculous as they are, show us the attitude whichthe men of that time, from force of custom, took

towards the gods. And Numa himself, as they say,had such impHcit confidence in the gods, that once,when a message was brought to him that enemieswere coming up against the city, he smiled and said :

" But I am sacrificing."^ Fabulous gnomes associated with the Mount Ida of

Phrygia and Crete.

361

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XVI. UpGJTov B4 <l)acn koX ULareco^ koI Tip-

fwvo^ lepov ISpvaaorOai. koI ttjv fiev TLiariv

opKOV aTToBeiât *V(DfjbaioL^ fjuiyLCTTOv, at')(^p(t)/jL€voi,

fjt'ixpt'vvv BtareXovacv 6 Be Tep/icov 6po<; av ri^

€Lr), Kal Ovovcnv avTW Brj/juoala koI IBla fcarh

TOV<; Twv ayptov irepLopiafMov^;, vvv fiev efju-ylrvxctt

TO iraKaiov Be avaifjuaKTO^; tjv rj Ovaia, No/jid 71

(f)i\o(70(f>^(TavTO^ €09 XPV '^^^ opiov 6eov elp'qvTj^

(f)vkaKa Kal BiKacoavv7j<; fidprvv ovra (f)6vov

2 Kadapov elvat. Bo/cel Be Kal 6\w<; ovto? oplaairrjv %&)pai/ o âa-iXev^, 'VonfivXov firj fiovXij-

Oevrov\dTTr]Tai, fir)

(pvXaTTOfJLevov Be t^9 dBiKia<; eXeyyov. ov /jltjv

ovBe Yjv BayfnXr)<; %co/3a Ty iroXei KaT dp^d^y dXXa3 Tr]V TToXXrjv ctlx/xfj 'wpoaeKTrjaaTo 'VwfjLvXo^' Kal

TavTr)v wdarav 6 Noyw-a? Bieveifxe to?9 diropoif;

Tcov TToXtTCOVy ft)9 dvdyKTjv T^9 dBiKia^ dcpatpcjv

Ttjv diTopiav, Kal Tpeirwv eirl yecopyiav tov Btj/jlov

dfia T7J x^P^ (TVve^rjiMepoviJuevov. ovBev yap dXXoTtav eiTLTrjBevfidTcov ovt(o<; epcoTa BpLfivv elprjVT]^

ipyd^6Tai Kal Tax^v «i>9 o diro 77)9 /3t09, ev SKal T^9 7roXe/JLiKr]<; €VToX/jLia<; to fxev V7r€pfiaxv~riKov TOV oiKeLov Biafjuevet, Kal irdpea-Ti, to Be €t9

dBiKiav Kal irXeoveîav dvei/xevov eKKeKOiTTai.

4 Blo Kal TT)v yecopyiav 6 No/jLd<; olov elpi]vr)(;

(fylXTpov epufjiiâ^ toI<; iroXiTai^ Kal fJuaXXov <h<;

rjOoiroLov rj TrXovToirotov dyairr)Ga^ Texvrjv, el<;

fiepT) Trjv x'^P^v BielXev, a 7rdyov<; Trpocrrjyopeva-e,

Kal Koff cKaaTov eiriaKOTrovf: eTaê Kal irept,-

36?

NUMA, XVI. 1-4

XVI. He was also the first, they say, to build

temples to Faith and Terminus ; and he taught theRomans their most solemn oath by Faith, which theystill continue to use. Terminus signifies boundary,and to this god tliey make public and private sacri-

fices where their fields are set off by boundaries ; of

living victims nowadays, but anciently the sacrifice

was a bloodless one, since Numa reasoned that the godof boundaries was a guardian of peace and a witnessof just dealing, and should therefore be clear from

slaughter. And it is quite apparent that it wasthis king who set bounds to the territory of the

city, for Romulus was unwilling to acknowledge, bymeasuring off his own, how much he had taken awayfrom others. He knew that a boundary, if observed,fetters lawless power ;

and if not observed, convicts

of injustice. And indeed the city's territory was notextensive at first, but Romulus acquired most of it

later with the spear. All this was distributed byNuma among the indigent citizens. He wished to

remove the destitution which drives men to wrong-doing, and to turn the people to agriculture, that

they might be subdued and softened along with thesoil they tilled. For there is no other occupationwhich produces so keen and quick a relish for peaceas that of a farmer's life, where so much of thewarrior's daring as prompts a man to fight for his own,is always preserved, while the warrior's licence to in-

dulge in rapacity and injustice is extirpated. Numa,therefore, administering agriculture to his citizens as

a sort of peace-potion, and well pleased with the art

as fostering character rather than wealth, dividedthe city's territory into districts, to which he gavethe name of "pagi," and in each of them he set

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TTOXOU?. €(TTL S' 0T€ Kol aVTO? i<f)0p5iV KOI

T€f€IULaip6fJL€V0<i aiTO TCOV CpjCOV TOV<; T/OOTrOf? TftJI/

ttoKltcov T0U9 /êt' et? rifiaf; koI Trttrret? ai^^ye,

Tous" Se padvjiov^ koI apeXeU '\jriyo)V kol KaKi^cov

€(TC0<j)p6viê.

XVII. Ta)v Be dWcov avrov iroXiTevfidrcov rj

Kara re'xya^ Siavofir} rod itXtjOov^s fidXiara

OavfidêTai. r7J<i yap TroXeco^ ire hvelv yevcov,

wairep e'lprjrai, avvecndvai SoKovarjfi, Bi€(7Td)<7r]<;

Be {xaXkov kol p.rjBev\ rpoirw fnd<; jeveaOat ffov-

\ofievr)<i /ji7]Be olov iâXel'^âL rrjv erepoTiqTa koX

Bia(f)opdVf dWd (TvyKpovaet^; dTravarov^; Koi(f)t-

XoveLKia^ Twi/ puepcov eôv(77)<;, BiavoT}del<; on koX

TCOV a-cofjudrcov rd (pvcrei Bva-pî/cra koX GrKKrjpk

Karadpavovre^; koX BLaipovvTe<; dvafjLcjvvouaLv,

{jTTo fiLKpoTTfTOf; dXkrfkoi^ (TVp.paivovTa p,dXkov,2 eyv(t> /caTaTep£LV ro/ia? irXeiova^ to avp-irav ttXtj-

60^' eK Be TovTcov et9 ere/ja? epâkoov Bi,a<l>opd^

rr}v irpd)T7)v ifceivrjv koX fieydXrjv d(f>avlcrai rat?

iXuTTocnv ivBiaaTrapeca-av. rjv Be r} Biavopr)

KUTa TU^ Texvaî avXrjTcov, XP^^^X^^^> t€/ct6-

vcDV, âipecov, (tkutotop^cdv, aKVToBeyfrcoi', ')(a\ice(jdv,

Kepa/jbioyv. Td<; Be XotTr^? re^îâ? et? TavTo avv-

ayayoov ev avTMV eK Traawv direBeLê o-vaTrjfia:

3 Kotv(ovia<; Be koX <tvv6Bov<; koI 6eo)v Tifid^ diro-

Bov<i eKd(TT(p yevec 7rpe7rov(Ta<;, Tore irpcoTOP ex

T779 TToXeco? dveTXe to XeyeaOai Koi vofiLêaOai

Toi/^ fiev Xa^lvov^, tov9 Be 'VcofxaLov^, koI tov^

$H

I NUMA, XVI. 4-XV11. 3

overseers and patrols. But sometimes he would

inspect them in person, and judging of the charac-

ters of the citizens from the condition of their farms,would advance some to positions of honour andtrust ;

while others, who were indolent and careless,

he would chide and reproach, and so try to makethem sensible.

XVII. But of all his measures, the one mostadmired was his distribution of the people into groups

according to their trades or arts. For the city was

supposed to consist of two tribes, as has been said,^

although it had no consistency, but was rather divided

into two tribes, and utterly refused to become united,or to blot out its diversities and differences. On the

contrary, it was filled with ceaseless collisions andcontentions between its component parts. Numa,therefore, aware that hard substances which will not

readily mingle may be crushed and pulverized, andthen more easily mix and mingle with each other-

owing to the smallness of their particles, determinedto divide the entire body of the people into a greaternumber of divisions, and so, by merging it in other

distinctions, to obliterate the original and great dis-

tinction, which would be lost among the lesser ones.

He distributed them, accordingly, by arts and trades,into musicians, goldsmiths, carpenters, dyers, leather-

workers, curriers, braziers, and potters. The remain-

ing trades he grouped together, and made one bodyout of all who belonged to them. He also appointedsocial gatherings and public assemblies and rites of

worship befitting each body. And thus, at last, hebanished from the city the practice of speaking and

thinking of some citizens as Sabines, and of others

*Chapter ii. 4 f.

VOL. I.j^ 365

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fjbhf TaTLov, Tou? Be 'PcofivXov iroXiraî, ftJcrre rrjv

hiaipeaiv evapijuoariav /cal dvd/jiiîv irdvrwv ye-veadai irpo^ 7rdvra<;.

4 ÊTraLvetrat Be rwv iroXniKwv avrov koI to

irepl TOP vcfjLOV BiopOwfxa top BiBovra rot? Trarpd-(TL rov<i iralBa^ TTLirpdaKeiv, VTreêXo/jbivov tou?

yeya/JLTjKOTa';, el rov 7raTpo<; iirawovvrof; Koi

Ke\euovro<; 6 ydfio<; yevocro, Beivov yap r^yelro

Tr)v &)? eXevOepcp yeyafjLTjjjuei^Tjv yvvacKa BovXtpavvoiKelv.

XVIII. "Hiâro Be koL t^9 'irep\ top ovpavov

Trpayfiareia^ ovre dKpL/3a)^ ovre iravrdiraaiv

dOecopyJToyfy. 'PcdjjlvXov yap âaiXevovro^ dXo-

yco<; ixpcoPTO rot? firja-l Kal a.Ta/CT6)9, rov<; jjjev

ovhe eiKoa-Lv rjfMepciyv, tov^ Be irevre koX TpidKovja,rov<; Be irXeiovcov Xoyi^6p,evoL, tt}? Be yivopbevrj^;

dv(o/iaX[a<? irepl rrjv aeXrjvqv /cal rov tjXlov

evvoiav ov/c e)(ovTe^y dXX ev ^yXdrrovre^ fJLovoVf

oiT(ov evBeKa yiveaOat Xoyt^6/jL€VO<;y ox; rov fiev

aeXrfVLa/cov rpLaKOcrLa<; TrevTrjKOvra T€o-aapa<;

e'XpvTo<i r)/xepa<i, rov Be rfXcaKov rptafcoaia^ ^^V'Kovra nrevre, ra? evBexa ravra<; rjiMepa^; BnrXa-

(Ttdôov iiTrjyaye irap iviavrov eirl ru) ê^pov-apiw fjL7)vl TOP ifi/36Xi/iop, viro 'Pco/iaiQyp MepxTj-Blvop KaXovfiepop, eiKOcri Kal Bvotp rjpuepwp opTa,

3 Kal TOVTO fiep avTw to tafia t?)? dp(oixaXia<i fiei,-

ôpcop e/iieXXep lapbdrcop BerjaeaOai,

ÎcTeKLprjae Be Kal ttjp rdîp twp firjpSiP' top

yap l^ldpTcop irpCoTOP opra rpiTOP eraê, irpwTOVBe TOP îapovdpiop, 09 7]p ipBeKaT0<: iirl 'PwjjlvXov,

366

I NUMA, XVII. 3-XV111. 3

as Romans; or of some as subjects of Tatius, and

others of Romulus, so that his division resulted in a

harmonious blending of them all together.Praise is also given to that measure of his whereby

the law permitting fathers to sell their sons was

amended. He made an exception of married sons,

provided they had married with the consent and

approval of their fathers. For he thought it a hard

thing that a woman who had married a man whomshe thought free, should find herself living with a

slave.

XVIII. He applied himself, also, to the adjustmentof the calendar, not with exactness, and yet not alto-

gether without careful observation. For during the

reign of Romulus, they had been irrational and irre-

gular in their fixing of the months, reckoning someat less than twenty days, some at thirty-five, andsome at more ; they had no idea of the inequality in

the annual motions of the sun and moon, but held

to this principle only, that the year should consist of

three hundred and sixty days. But Numa, estimat-

ing the extent of the inequality at eleven days, since

the lunar year had three hundred and fifty-four days,but the solar year three hundred and sixty-five,doubled these eleven days, and every other year in-

serted after the month of February the intercalarymonth called Mercedinus by the Romans, whichconsisted of twenty-two days. This correction of the

inequality which he made was destined to requireother and greater corrections in the future.

He also changed the order of the months. March,which had been first, he made the third month, and

January, which had been the eleventh under Romulus,

367

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Ba)S€fcaTO<; Be Kal reXeuTato? o êjSpovdpio^, g5

pvu Bevrepfp '^(^pcovrac. ttoWoI Be elaiv ot Kal

irpotrreOr^vat, tovtov^ vito No/jlo, tov<; firiva<^ \e-

yovai', Tov re *lavovdpiov koI top ê^povdpiov,4 ef dp)(^f]<;

Be ^prjaOai Be/ca jmovov el<; tov evtavrov,

ft)9 evLOL Tcov âp^dpcov Tpicri, koI roiv 'EW^Vojj/

ApxdBef; fiev rea-aapaLv, ef Be ÂKapvave^, Alyv-TTTôt? Be fxTjviolo^ rjv 6 iviavT6<;, elra rerpd-

fir)vo<;f u><; <l)a<7i. Bio Kal vecordrrjv ')(^copav ol-

KOvvTe<; dp-)(âi6raT0i BoKovauv elvai Kal irXrjdo^

dfjbrj-xâvov irSv eirl raU 'yeveaXoyiai^ Kara<j>epoV'

acv, are Brj tou? firjva^; et? ercov dpt9fiov rcOifievoi,.

XIX. 'VcofialoL Be on jjuev BeKa fLrjva^ eh tov

ivtavTov €TaTTov, ov B(i)SeKa, TeKjjirjpiov 17 tov

TeXevratov Trpoarjyopba' BeKarov yap avTov a^pivvv KaXovatv otl Be tov MdpTLOV irpooTOV, r)

Tdî<;' TOV yap dir eKeUov irifJuiTTov eKdXovv

Tre/uLTTTov €KTov Be TOV eKTOv Kal Twv dWcov

€^^9 o/xota)9 eKacTTOv, eirel tov Îdvovdpiov Kal

TOV ê^povdpLov TTpo TOV MapTiov Tt6€/iievoi<;

avveâivev avTot<; tov elpy/iivov /Jbrjva Tre/JLTTTov

2 fiev ovop^dêiv, e^BojjLov Be dpidiielv. dW,a><i Be

Kal \6yov elx^ '^^^ MdpTLov "Apei Kadt-epco/jievov

VTTO TOV 'Po)fiv\nv irpwTov ovo/jidêadar BevTcpovBe TOV ÂirpiWioVy eTrcovv/jLov ovTa t^9 Â^poBi-

T7j<;, iv 00 Ouovau re ttj dew Kal Talf; KaXdvBai^

at yvvalKe<i e(TT€(j)av(o/jbevai fjuvpcrlvr] XovovTat.

Tcvh Be ov Bia ttjv 'AippoBlTrjv tov ÂTrpLXKiov

3^8

NUMA, XVIII. 3-XIX. 2

he made the first month ; February, which had beentwelfth and last, thus became the second month, as

now. But there are many who say that these monthsof January and February were added to the calendar

by Numa, and that at the outset the Romans had

only ten months in their year, as some Barbarians

have three, and as, among the Greeks, the Arcadians

have four^ and the Acarnanians six ; the Aegyptian

year had at first only a single month in it, afterwards

four, as we are told. And therefore, though they in-

habit a very recent country,^ they have the credit of

being a very ancient people, and load their genealo-

gies with a prodigious number of years, since theyreally count their months as so many years.XIX. That the Romans had at first only ten

months in their year, and not twelve, is proved by the

name of their last month ; for they still call it

December, or the tenth month. And that Marchused to be their first month, is proved by the sequenceof months after it ; for the fifth month after it used

to be called Quintihs, the sixth Sextilis, and so onwith the rest. Therefore, when they placed Januaryand February before March, they were guilty of

naming the above-mentioned month Quintilis, or

fifth, but counting it seventh. And besides, it

was reasonable that March, which is consecrate to

Mars, should be put in the first place by Romulus,and April in the second place, since this monthis named after Aphrodite. In it they sacrificed to

this goddess, and on its first day the women bathe

with myrtle garlands on their heads. Some, how-

ever, say that April, with its smooth "p," cannot

*Perhaps as formed by the deposits of the Nile (Herod, ii.

5 and 9).

3^9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(f)acnv, aW* wairep 6%6i rovvofia yjrtXov, 'Att/jiX-

Xiov KeKXrjcrGai rov firjva T779 iapcvrj's atpa^ aKfxa-

ôvaryjfi avolyovra koi avaKokifmovra tov<; jSXa-

cTToy? Tcov (f)VTCtiV' TovTO yap 7} yXwTTa arj/xalvei.

3 Twv 8' e(j>e^ri^ top fiev M^dlov KaXovatv airo Mata?*

*l^pfifj yap dvLepcorar rov Se ^lovviov diro rr)?

"Hpa?. eiaX he rive'^ ol rovrov<i rjKLKia^; iircovvfiov^;

elvat \e'yovTe<i TTpeaînepa^ xal vecDT6pa<;' pâlo)-

pei^ yap ol Trpea^vrepoi irap avTol^, lovrtcopet^;

Be ol pecorepoi xaXovvrai. tcov Be Xolttoov exaa-Tov

diro T% rdêax;, oicnrep dpiBfiovvTe^y covofiaôv

Tre/MTTTov, 6KT0V, i^BofjioVy oyBoov, evarovy Bexarov4 elra 6 Tre/iTrro? diro KaL(Tapo<; rov Karayayviaa-

fievov Hofiirrjlov 'lovXto^' 6 Be e/cro? Avyov(Tro<idiro Tov Bevrepov fxev apâvTO<^y êâarov Be

i7ri,KXrjO€vro<;, ODVop,daOrj. tou? Be€<f>e^rj<;

^ Ao-

fjL€Tiav6<i €la€7roLT)(T€ Tal^ avTOv 7rpoa(ovv/jLLai<i ov

iroXvv "^povov, diXKa TdvXaâv.5 Tcov Be V7T0 No/xd TrpoarredevTcov rj fieTare-

OivTcov 6 [lev ^€^povdpio<; olov KaOdpcno^ dv tl<;

etrj' Kal yap rj Xef^? eyyiara rovro arjjuLolvei, /cal

Tot9 ÔiToU evayiôvai Tore Kal ryv rwv Aovirep-KaXicov eoprrjv et? rd iroXXd KaOapfito Trpoaeoi-Kvlav reXovo-iv 6 Be irpwro^ ^lavovdpto<; diro

rod ^lavov. BoKel Be /xoi rov MdpTiov 6 No/ta?^

icpe^rjs Bekker adds Svo.

37P

I NUMA, XIX. 2-5

be derived from Aphrodite, with its rough"ph,"

but that this month of high spring time is called

April because it opens and discloses the buds andshoots in vegetation, this being the meaning of the

word "aperio." The next month in order is called

May, from Maia, the mother of Mercury, to whom it

is sacred ;and June is so named from Juno. There

are some, however, who say that these months gettheir name from an age, older and younger ;

for

"majores" is their name for the etdeVy "juniores"for the younger men. Each of the remaining months

they named from its arithmetical position in the list,

the fifth Quintilis, the sixth Sextilis, and so on with

September, October, November, and December.Afterwards the fifth month was named Julius, from

Julius Caesar, the conqueror of Pompey ; and the

sixth month Augustus, from the second Caesar, whowas given that title. The seventh and eighth monthsbore for a short time the names Germanicus and

Domitianus, which the emperor Domitian gave them;

but when he was slain, they resumed their old namesof September and October. Only the last two

mionths, November and December, preserved the

names derived from their position in the list just as

they were at the outset.

Of the months which were added or transposed

by Numa, February must have something to do with

purification, for this is nearest to the meaning of the

word, and in this month they make offerings to thedead and celebrate the festival of the Lupercalia,

which, in most of its features, resembles a puri-fication.^ The first month, January, is so namedfrom Janus. And I think that March, which is

^ Cf. Bomidua, xxi. 4-8.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eTToovvfiov ovra rov "Apeo)? ck rrj^: irpoeBpia^

fieraa-TTJaaL, ôvkofievo^; iv iravrX tt}? 7ro\e/JLt,K7]<;

6 Svvdfjiecof; TrpoTt/jidadaL rrjv ttoXltiktjv. 6 yap*lav6<; iv rot? Trdvv 7ra\aioL<i etre haipLWv etre

âai\ev<i yev6p,evo<; irokLTiKoî /cal koivcoviko<; i/c

Tov 6r)pL(o8ov^ Kol dypLov Xeyerat pberaâXelv

TTjv hiairav. /cat Blcl tovto irXdrrovaiv avTov

afKJynrpoo-coTTov, &)? eripav ef erepa^ rw Pi(p irepL-

7rou](7avTa rrjv /jLop(pr)v koI BidOeaiv.

XX. "Ran Be avrov koX veo)^ iv 'Pco/irj 73

BtOvpo^, ov TToXifMOV TTvXnjv KokovcTi. vofillera L

yap dveQ>)(6ai ixev avrov orav rj TroXe/i-o?, KSfcXel-

adai Be elprjvrjf; yevo/jL€V7)<;. o Brj '^^âXenov rjv KaX

(TTravLcjf; yivopievov, del tivc avvrjprrjixevTj'; iro-

XefKp T?}? r)ye[jLovia<^, Blcl fieyeOo^ roh KV/cXtp

irepLicex^t^^voi<i yevecn Pap^dpoi<; dvrepeLBov(Tr}<^,

2 ttXtjv iiri ye tov ê/3acrrov }Laiaapo^ iKXeicrOr)

Ka6eX6vTO<; Âvtcoviov KaX irporepov virarev-

ovTcov MapKov ÂtlXlov KaX Tltov MaXXlov

')(^p6vov ov iroXvv elra ev6v<; dve(px^l rrroXi/jLov

(TvppayevTO<i, dXX' iirl ye r^? Nofid âaLXeia^;

ovBe/jilav r)pepav dvewypuevo^ oj^drj, rpla Be KaX

reTTapdKOvra err) avve'x,^)^ epeive KeKXetap,evo<i'ovTco^ i^rjprjTo iravreXo)^ rd rov iroXefxov KaX

3 7ravTa')(o6ev. ov yap /jlovov 6 '¥(o/iaLo)v r^fxepcoTG

KaX KaTeKeKrfKrjTO rfj BtKatoo-vvrj KaX TrpaortjTLrov âaiXio)^ Brjpioî, d\Xd KaX ra? kvkXo) 7r6Xei<i,

cjairep avpa^ rcvo<; iKeWev rj irvevjiaTO^; iiyieivov

(êpovTOîy dpyj) /xeraySoX^? ekaê KaX tt66o<^

elaeppvrj iravra^ evvop,ia<^ KaX elprjvr]<; KaX yijv

(^vreveiv KaX reKva rpecfiecv iv '>)o-uxla f^cil

372

NUMA, XIX. 5-xx. 3 I

named from Mars, was moved by Numa from its\

place at the head of the months because he wislied \

in every case that martial influences should yield \

precedence to civil and political. For this Janus, in

remote antiquity, whetlier he was a demi-god or a

king, was a patron of civil and social order, and is 1

said to have lifted human life out of its bestial and\

savage state. For this reason he is represented with

two faces, implying that he brought men's lives outj

of one sort and condition into another. I

XX. He also has a temple at Rome with double;

doors, which they call the gates of war ; for the

temple always stands open in time of war, but is\

closed when peace has come. The latter was stj

difficult matter, and it rarely happened, since the 1

realm was always engaged in some war, as its in-j

creasing size brought it into collision with the\

barbarous nations which encompassed it round about. ;

But in the time of Augustus Caesar it was closed, ]

after he had overthrown Antony' ;and before that, 1

when Marcus Atilius and Titus Manlius were consuls^ :

it was closed a short time ; then war broke out again j

at once, and it was opened. During the reign of]

Numa, however, it was not seen open for a single ]

day, but remained shut for the space of forty-three ]

years together, so complete and universal was the I

cessation of war. For not only was the Roman

people softened and charmed by the righteousness |

and mildness of their king, but also the cities round]about, as if some cooling breeze or salubrious windwere wafted upon them from Rome, began to ex-^

perience a cliange of temper, and all of them were '

filled with longing desire to have good government,to be at peace, to till the earth, to rear their children

373

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 aepeadai Oeov^. eopral 8e xal OaXiai fcal Trap*

aW'^Xovfi aSeax; lovrcov koX avafJuyvvfjuevcDv viro-

ho')(a\ Kal (j)Lko^poavvai rrjv ÎraXlav Karel'Xôv,

olov i/c 7rrjyrj<; rrjLa<; ra)v Kokcov kol

Bi/caLO)v eTTetapeovTCDV et? airavTa^ /cat hia-^êo-

fiepr)(; rfj^ irepl eKelvov fyaXijvrj^- wcrre kol Ta9

7roLr}TiKa<; virep/BoXaf; iuBelv tt/oo? rrjv tote Kara-

5 (TTaaiv Xeyovaiv "*Ei/ Se (nBapoBerocf; iropiraîvaWav apa')(vav epyw'* Kai,

"€vpQ)pa)V virvo^ diro /SXecfidpcov** ovre yap iroXepLOf;

0VT6 ardaif; ovre v€coT€pL(Tp,o^ irepX TroXtreiav

KrroprjraL ^npâ l3aaiXevovTo<;' ov p^rjv ovB* iir

avTOv eKelvov ex^pa tl<; rj <j)d6vo<; rj Be epcora6 paaiXeia^ iiriôvXr) Kal avaTaGi^ dvBpojVf dXX*

€LT€ (f)6ô<; Oeuiv TTpoKrjBea-dai Bokovvtcov tov

dvBpovXdTTOV(ra rov îov, evapye<s i^Tj-

veyK€ irapdBeiypa Kal reKpLrjpiov Tr}<; liXarciyviKr]^

(l)(Ovi]<;, Tjv varepov eKelvov; ovk oXiyot^ ^^/Doiôr?

7 yev6p,evo^ iroXfJirjaev dêlvat, irepl TroXcreia^;, 0)9

fita KaKcav iravXa Kal Xvai<; dvdpa)7roi<; iartv, €k

TLVOî TV'vrj'^ 6eia<; el^ ravro Biavoia (f)LXoa6(j>ay

âaiXiKTjv (Tvp,TTeaovaav Bvvapiv iyKparrj Kal

vTrepBe^LOV Tfj<; KaKia^ rr)v dperrjv KaraarrjcraL,"MaKdpiOf; fiev yap avTO<;'* 6 aaxjypoyv a)9 dXr)-

îatfiSvios Bryan's correction, adopted by Coraes and

Bekker : Saljxoyos.

374

NUMA, XX. 4-7

in quiet, and to worship the gods. Festivals

feasts, hospitahties and friendly converse between

people who visited one another promiscuously andwithout fear,

—these prevailed throughout Italy,while honour and justice flowed into all hearts from

the wisdom of Numa, as from a fountain, and the

calm serenity of his spirit diffused itself abroad.

Thus even the hyperboles of the poets fall short of

picturing the state of man in those days :" And on

the iron-bound shield-handles lie the tawney spiders'webs "; and,

" rust now subdues the sharp-pointed

spears and two-edged swords; no longer is the

blast of brazen trumpets heard, nor are the

eyelids robbed of delicious sleep."^ For there

is no record either of war, or faction, or

political revolution while Numa was king. Naymore, no hatred or jealousy was felt towards his

person, nor did ambition lead men to plot and

conspire against his throne. On the contrary, either

fear of the gods, who seemed to have him in their

especial care, or reverence for his virtue, or a mar-vellous felicity, which in his days kept life free fromthe taint of every vice, and pure, made him a manifest

illustration and confirmation of the saying which

Plato,2 many generations later, ventured to utter

regarding government, namely, that human ills would

only then cease and disappear when, by some divine

felicity, the power of a king should be united

in one person with the insight of a philosopher,

thereby establishing virtue in control and masteryover vice. "

Blessed," indeed, is such a wise man

^ A free citation, apparently from memory, of Bacchylides,Fragment 13 (Bergk). See Jehh'ii Bacchylides, p. 411.

'•'

Republic, p. 487 e.

375

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

6(b^,"

fjLafcdpioL Se ol avvrjKOOL rwv ex rov acocppo-8 vovvro^ cTTO/iaro? lovrcov XoycovT Td\a yap ovBe

dvdyKTjf; rivo^ Set irpb^ tol/? ttoWov^ ovSe direi-

Xt)?, avrol Se Trjv dperrjv ev evSijXa) TrapaBeiyfiarixal Xa/jL7rpa> t© jSiO) rov dpxovro<; opcovreî, eKOV-

aL(o<; <Tw<^povovcn Koi avfji/JLeraa^rj/iiarLôvrai

TTyDo? TOP iv <^L\ia /cat ofiovoia rfj TTyoo? avrov'i

fxerd hiKaioavvq^ koi fMCTpLOTrjToî dfiv/iova^ fcal

/laKdpLOV îovy ev o5 to koXXlcttov aTrdar}^ iroki-

rela<i TeXo<; earl, Koi âacXcKcorarof; dirdvrcov

6 TOVTov TOP fiiov KoX TavTTjv rr)V SidOeaiv rol^

viTr}/c6oL(i ivepydaaadai hvvdpêvo^. ravra fiev

ovv NoyLta? TravTo^ fiaXXov (paLveruL (TVV€Q)paK(t)<;,

XXI. Tlepl Be TraiBcav avrov kol ydficov avri-

Xoyiai yeyovaai Tot<; iaropifcolf;. ol /uev yap ovre

ydjjiov dXXov t) rov TaTta? Xafielv avrov ovre

iraiBof; erepov yevecrdai irarepa irXrjv fjLia^ Ovya-

rpo^ TlofiTriXia'; Xeyovatv ol Be irpo^ ravrrj recr-

(rapa^ viov<; dvaypdôvaiv avrov, JJofjuTrcova,

T]lvov, KaXiroVt yidpspKOV, Oiv eKacrrov oIkov

2BLaBo')(r)v /cal y€vov<; evrifiov /caraXnrecv. elvai

yap diro fiev rov H6/jL7TO)vo<; tou? Ilo/j,7ro)VLov<;,

diTO Be Yiivov rov<s Yiivapiov^, diro Be KdXirov 74

TOL/9 KaXTTovpviov^, drro Be MafiepKov tou? Ma-fiepfCLOV^, oh Bia rovro xal 'Fijya^ yeveaOat,

rrapwvvfiLov, oirep earl fiaaiXea^. rpiroi Be elcnv

ol rovrcov fiev Karijyopovvre^; &)? %a/0£fo/^2/a)i^ Tot9

yeveai /cal Trpoaridevrcov ovk dXrjOrj crre/jLfiara

rrji diro Nofia BcaBoxV'^> ^V^ Be HofMinXiav ovk etc

TarLa<: yeyovevat Xeyovre^, aW* ef erepa^s yvvai-^

a/xv/jLova MSS. and edd. : a.Kvôva {waveltss, serene)^ after

Wyttenbach.

37S0

NUMA, XX. 7-xxi. 2

"in himself, and blessed, too, are those who hear thel

words of wisdom issuing from his lips."^ For possibly

there is no need of any compulsion or menace in

dealing with the multitude, but when they see with

their own eyes a conspicuous and shining example of|

virtue in the life of their ruler, they will of their ownaccord walk in wisdom's ways, and unite with him in

conforming themselves to a blameless and blessed]

life of friendship and mutual concord, attended by'

righteousness and temperance. Such a life is the

noblest end of all government, and he is most a kingwho can incalcate such a life and such a disposition^

in his subjects. This, then, as it appears, Numa wasj

preeminent in discerning.

XXI. As regards his marriages and offspring, his-

torians are at variance. Some say that he had no|

other wife than Tatia, and no other child than one!

daughter, Pompilia. Others ascribe to him four sons]

besides. Pompon, Pinus, Calpus, and Mamercus, each;

one of whom was the founder of an honourable!

family. From Pompon the Pomponii arc descended,^from Pinus the Pinarii, from Calpus the Calpurnii,

and from Mamercus the Mamercii, who for thiSi

reason had also the surname of Reges, or Kings,

But there is a third class of writers who accuse the|former of paying court to these great families byj

forging for them lines of descent from Numa, and*

they say that Pompilia was not the daughter of|

Tatia, but of Lucretia, another wife whom Numal1 Cf. Plato, Laws, p. 711 o.

m

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 «09, fjv ^St) âo-iXevcov eyrj/jie, KovKpi^rla^* irdv-

T69 S' ovv ojJLoXoyovcn rrjv HofJuriXiav MapKLO)ya/MTjOrjvaL. Trat? Be rjv 6 Mdp/CLO<; eKeivov Ma/9-kLov tov Nofidv irapopp^rjcravTOf; iirl rrjv âcn-Xetav KOL yap avfi/jLeratKrjaeu et? 'Vco/i7)v avro)

Koi Trj<; avy/cXTjrov fi€r6(T)(ê Tip.a)/ju€vo<;, xal fiera

Tr)v Nofid TeXevTTjV 'OariXiw irepl Tfj<; fiacnXelaêh dywva KaTa(7ra<; Kal r)rTi]6e\^ aTre/capTeprjaep,6 Be vio<; avrov Mdp/CLO<; eô^v ttjv HopîriXiap

KarefieLvev ev ^Payfjurj teal Map/aov"

Aykov eyevvi)-

aeVy 09 iiera l^vXXov 'OarLXiov eâaiXevae.4 TOVTov, CO? Xeyerai, TrevTaerr} /caraXiTTcop 6 No/ia?

ireXevryjaev, ov Ta')(€ia<^ ovS* aL(j>viSLOV yevopevr}<iavTO) ri)<; reXevrrj^, dXXa Kara pîKpov viro yrjpa)^;

Kal voaov jxaXaKj)^ uTro/jLapaLvo/jievo^, ct)9 la-roprjKe

Helcrcov, ereXevrrjae Be ^(^povov ov ttoXvv tol<;

oyBorjKoina Trpoaîcocra';.

XXII. ZrjXcDTov Be avrov xal rw rdcfxp tov j3iov

iTTOLrjcrav oX recrvjjifjba'xôi

xal (fiuXot BrjfxoL, a-vveX-

66vTe<; iirl ra? raâ? d/ia Biîioaiai^ einôpalfiKal aTe(f>dvoL<;, oi re TrarpiKLOL ro X6;^09 dpdp,evoL,Kal avp.7rap6vre<; ol royv Oeodv lepeh Kal irapa-

7re/x7roi/T€9, o 5' dXXo<; ofjutXa dpapLefxiy/uiivcov Kal

yvvatKcov Kal rralBcov ov^ ft>9 âo-iXew^ raâhyrjpaiov irapovre^, dXX^ w9 riva rwv (piXrdrcop eKa-

0"T09 eV aKp^rj /3lov irodovpievov Odirrcov, fxer olfio)-

2 7^9 Kal KXavOfioiV eiropLevoi. irvpl fiev ovv ovk

eBoaav rov veKpov avrov KcoXvaavro'^, a)9 Xeyerai,Bvo Be irovrjaajxevoi, XiOiva^ aopov<s vtto ro ÎdvoK-

Xov edrjKav, rrjv piev erepav exovaav ro acopa, r7}v

Be erepav rd<i lepd^ ^l^Xov^ a9 eypd-âro jjievavr6<;,

378

NUMA, XXI. 3-XX11. 2 1

married after he became king. However, all are

agreed that Pompilia was married to Marcius. Nowthis Marcius was a son of the Marcius who induced

Numa to accept the throne.^ That Marcius accom-

panied Numa to Rome, and there was honoured with

membership in the Senate. After Numa's death, he;

competed for the throne with Hostilius, and beingdefeated, starved himself to death. But his son

Marcius, the husband of Pompilia, remained at Rome,and begat Ancus Marcius, who succeeded Tullus

Hostilius in the kingdom. This Ancus Marcius is

said to have been only five years old when Numadied, not a speedy nor a sudden death, but wasting

away gradually from old age and a mild disorder, as '

Piso writes. He was something over eighty yearsold when he died.

XXII. His obsequies were as much to be envied

as his life. The peoples which were in alliance and

friendship with Rome assembled at the rites with

public offerings and crowns ; the senators carried his

bier, the priests of the gods served as its escort, andthe rest of the people, including women and chil-

dren, followed with groans and lamentations, not as

though they were attending the funeral of an agedking, but as though each one of them was burying*some dearest relation taken away in the flower of life.

They did not burn his body, because, as it is said, heforbade it; but they made two stone coffins andburied them under the Janiculum. One of theseheld his body, and the other the sacred books whichhe had written out with his own hand^ as the Greek

* Cf. chapter vi.

379

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

OKTTrep 01 T(ov 'EXX'^vcov vofioOirat tou9 KvpjSei^,

eK^Lhaâ^ he Tov<i l€pel<i ert ^wv ra yeypafjifievaKol TTCLVTCOV e^LV T€ KOI yVGO/jLTJV 6V€pya(rd/Ji€V0';

avTOt?, eKeXevae a-vvTa(j)rjvat pera rod <T(op,aro^,

€09 ov KaXo)^ iv ay^xr)(Ôi<s ypap-puaai (f)povpovp.6V(DV3 Tcov arroppiJTcov. o5 Xoyiap.a) âai p^rfBe tov<:

TivOayopLKOv^ el<i ypa(f)r)v /cararldeaÔai, ra avv-

Taypara, p,vf]p.rjv Be kol iraiBevaLV avrcov dypa-(j)ov epnTOtelv to?? aîoL^. fcal t^9 76 irepl r^^

airopovf; /cat appt]Tovaaav €7rL(rr)p,aLV€LV to Baipovcov

p^yciXo) Ttvl KoX KOLV(p Kaic& rrjv yeyevijpêvrjv

4 irapavopilav Kal daeêiav iireêpxop'evov. ware

avyyvcopurjv e%eti/ iroXXrjv toU ek to ai^To TLvOa-

yopa Nop.dv <^LXoTLp,ovp.evoL^ o-vvdyeiv iirl Toaav-

Tai? opÔLorrjaLV.

01 Be irepX ÂvTLav IcTopovai BcoBexa p^v elvai

^l^Xov<; iepo(pavTLKd<;, BcoBexa Be dXXaf; 'E\-

Xr}VLKdev râav IIoTrXio? Kopj^T^Xto? koX MdpKo<:BaLîO'i' opu^pcov Bi pLeydXcov iimreaovTwv koX

')((ji)paTO<; 7repLppayevT0pdTcov evpeOevTcov dvayvcovai piev

avTCL XeyeTai IleTtXto? aTparrjycov Tore, Trpo? Be

Tr}V (TvyKXtjTOV KopLiaai} purj Bokclv avrtp OepLiTOVelvai Xeycov p^rjBe oaiov eKirvcrra ttoXXoI^ to. ye-

1KOj-daai Coraes, Sintenis ^, and Bekker, with C : dp/xriffai.

380

NUMA, XXII. 2-5

lawgivers their tablets. But since, while he was

still living, he had taught the priests the written

contents of the books, and had inculcated in their

hearts the scope and meaning of them all, he com-

manded that they should be buried with his body,convinced that such mysteries ought not to be en-

trusted to the care of lifeless documents. This is the

reason, we are told, why the Pythagoreans also do

not entrust their precepts to writing, but implant the

memory and practice of them in living disciples

worthy to receive them. And when their treatment

of the abstruse and mysterious processes of geometryhad been divulged to a certain unworthy person,

they said the gods threatened to punish such lawless-

ness and impiety with some signal and wide-spread

calamity. Therefore we may well be indulgent with

those who are eager to prove, on the basis of so

many resemblances between them, that Numa was

acquainted with Pythagoras.

Antias, however, writes that it was twelve pontifical

books, and twelve others of Greek philosophy, which

were placed in the coffin. And about four hundred

years afterwards, when Publius Cornelius and MarcusBaebius were consuls, heavy rains fell, and the tor-

rent of water tore away the earth and dislodged . the

coffins. When their lids had fallen off, one coffin wasseen to be entirely empty, without any trace whateverof the body, but in the other the writings were found.

These Petilius, who was then praetor, is said to have

read, and then brouo:ht to the senate, declaring that,

in his opinion, it was not lawful or proper that the

38'

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ypafifiiva yeviaOar 8co koX K0fiia6eiaa06vov iroXijv 'X^povov ovk e7rtfcoz^T09,

eviwv Be koX irpoaTrodvrjcTKovTO'i' ov/jltjv

aXX!

iKGLVov ye rrjv Boâv al rwv varepov jSacnXiav 75

TVXO'i' Xa/jLTrporepav iTroirjcav. irevre yap yevo-

fiivcov fJi€T avTOv 6 fiev €a)(âTO^ iKTreacbv t^9

dpxv'* ^^ 4^^yV K^CLTeyrjpacrey rwv Bk reaadpcovovBel^ Kara (f)vcnv ireXevrrjaev, aXX* ol ixev rpel^

7 einôvXevOevTe<; €a<j>dyr)<rap, '0<rTL\Lo<; Be TvWo<;,09 fMera Nofidp eâaiXevae, /cal ra irXelara rwveKeivov KaXoiv, ev Be TrpcoroL^ Kal fidXiara rrjv

wepi TO Oelov evXdffeiav, eirL-xXevdaa^ koI koOv-

Ppiaa^ d)^ dpyoTTOiOV Kal yvvacKooBrj, 7r/)09 iroXe-

fiov erpe-xjre tov<: TroXtra^, ovB^ avrbî ive/xeive To2<i

veavievfiaaL rovroLîy dX^C vtto voaov %a\e7r7}9KoX TroXvTpOTTOU T7)V yVCOfJLlJV dXXa<T(T6fjL€V0<; €i9

BeKTiBaLfjioviai' eveBcoxev ovBip tl rfj Kara No/j.dv

evae/SeLCL irpoarjKOvaav, en Be fxaXXov eveiroiTja-e

T0t9 dXXoi^ TO TOLovrov irdQo^, ci)9 Xeyerat,, fcara-

(piXeÔeU VTTO Kepavvcap,

AYKOYPrOY KAI NOMA SYTKPlSlS

I. 'AXX' €7r€t TOP NoyLta Kol Av/covpyov BieXij-

XvOafxev jSuoPt eK/cei/nepcop dfjbcôlp, el kol ;jâXe7roi/

epyop, OVK dTTOKprjTeop avpayayelp Ta9 Biaôpd^,

38»

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, i. i

writings should be published abroad. The books

were therefore carried to the comitium and burned.

It is true, indeed, of all just and good men, that

they are praised more after they have left the world

than before, since envy does not long survive them,and some even see it die before them ; but in Numa'scase the misfortunes of the kings who followed himmade his fame shine all the brighter. For of the

five who came after him, the last was dethroned and

grew old in exile, and of the other four, not one died

a natural death. Three of them were conspired

against and slain ; and Tullus Hostilius, who reignednext after Numa, and who mocked and derided

most of his virtues, and above all his devotion

to religion, declaring that it made men idle and

effeminate, turned the minds of the citizens to war.

He himself, however, did not abide by his pre-

sumptuous folly, but was converted by a grievousand complicated disease, and gave himself over to a

superstition which was far removed from the piety of

Numa. His subjects, too, were even more affected

with superstition, as we are told, when he died by a

stroke of lightning.

COMPARISON OF LYCURGUS AND NUMA

I. Now that we have recounted the lives of Numaand Lycurgus, and both lie clearly before us, wemust attempt, even though the task be difficult, to

assemble and put together their points of difference.

383

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

at fiev yap KotvoTrjre^ iTrKpalvovrac TaL<; irpdêa-iv,

olov7) acocppoo-vpr) rojv dvBpcov, r) evaiêia, to

TTokiTiKov, TO iraiBevTiKov, TO p^lav dpxv^ irapdTcbv Oeoiv dfi(j)OTepov<; \a/3elp r?)? vopoOecria^'

tS)V he ISia €/caT6pov /caXwv irpwrov ecTL No/za

pev rj 7rapd\r)-\jn<; Trj<; ySacrtXeta?, AvKovpyw Be 17

2 '7rapdBo(TL<;. 6 pev yap ovk alr&v ekaêVy o Be

e%o)i/ aTreBoiKe. Ka\ top pev eTepoi Kvpiov avTOJV

KaTeaTTjaav IBlcottjv kuI êvov ovTa, 6 Be auT09

avTov IBlcottjv Ik âcriXeo}^ iTroLrjae. kuXov phfolfv to KTrjaaadai, BiKaLoavvrj ttjv /SaatXelav,

Kokov Be TO irpoTLprjaai, Tr)v BiKaioavvrjv t^9

paai\eia<i. r/ yap dpeTrj tov pev ovtco^ evBoôv

KUTeaTTja-ev a>aTe âaiXeiaî dî(o6rjvai, tov Be

ovTco peyav iiroirja-ev &aTe âai\eLa<; KaTa-

^povrja-ac.

3 AevTepov toIvvv, iirel Kaddirep dppoviKoX

Xvpa<i, 6 p,ev eKXeXvpevrjv Kal Tpvcjycoorav eireTeive

Tr)v ^'KdpT7)Vy 6 Be Trj<; 'Pco/ir;? to acjioBpov dvPjKe

Kal avvTOVOVy rj pev âXcTrori;? tov epyov t&

AvKOvpya) TrpoaeaTiv, ov yap 6oi)paica<^ eKBvvai

Kal ^L^r) Tou? TToXtVa? KaTaOeaOai eTretOev, dXXd

')(pvaov Kal dpyvpov dêtvai Kal crTpci)pvd<; e/c-

0aXelv TToXvTeXel'i Kal Tpaireâ^, ovBe Travaape-vov<; TToXep^cov eopTdêiv Kal dveiv, dXXd Belirva

Kal tt6tov<; edaavTa<; ev toI^ oirXoi^ Kal TaU4 7raXaL(TTpai<; BiairoveiaOai Kal dcrKecv. 66ev 6

pev 3i' eviwLa<; Kal Tiprjf; diravTa ireiOwv eirpaêv,6 Be KLvBvvevcov Kal jSaXXopêvo^ p,6yi<: iireKpd-

TTjcrev,

384

I LYCURGUS AND NUMA, i. 1-4

For their points of likeness are obvious from their

careers : their wise moderation, their piety, their

talent for governing and educating, and their both

deriving their laws from a divine source. But each

also performed noble deeds peculiar to himself. To

begin with, Numa accepted, but Lycurgus resigned,a kingdom. One got it without asking for it, the

other had it and gave it up. One was made byothers their sovereign, though a private person anda stranger ; the other made himself a private person,

though he was a king. It was a noble thing, of

course, to win a kingdom by righteousness ; but it

was also a noble thing to set righteousness above a

kingdom. For it was virtue which rendered the one

so famous as to be judged worthy of a kingdom, and

virtue, too, which made the other so great as to scorn

a kingdom.in the second place, then, it is granted that, just

as musicians tune their lyres, so Lycurgus tightenedthe strings at Sparta, which he found relaxed with

luxury, and Numa loosened the strings at Rome,where the tones were sharp and high ; but the task

was more difficult in the case of Lycurgus. For his

efforts were to persuade the citizens, not to take off

their breast-plates and lay aside their swords, but to

cast away gold and silver, and abandon costly couches

and tables ; not to cease from wars and hold festivals

and sacrifices, but to give up feasting and drinkingand practise laboriously as soldiers and athletes.

Wherefore the one accomplished all his ends by

persuasion, through the good-will and honour in

which his people held him ; but the other had to

risk his life and suffer wounds, and scarcely then

prevailed.

38s

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

"H/t€p09 flivTOl Koi îkdvOpCDTTO^ tj TOV NoyLta

fxovaa TTpo^ elpt/injv koi SiKaioavvrjv fieOapfio-

aafievov xal Kara7rpavvavT0<; ef aKparoiv fcal

SiaTrvpcov tjOwv tov<; TroXtra?. el Be koI to

irepX T0U9 EtXojTa? avayKacreL ri<; ij/â? et? ttjv

5 AvKovpyov OiaOai iroXireiav, w/jLorarov epyovKoX TrapavofiaoraroVy fiaKpo) rivi top No/xdv eWi]-

viKwrepov yeyovevai vopoderr^v (pijao/iev, 09 yeKol T0U9 Q)/jLo\oy^]pLevov<; Bov\ov<i eyevcre Ti/x^9

iX€vdepa<^y iv roh KpoviOL<i eariaadau fiera tmvBecnrorcov dvap6pcy/jLevov<i e6i(Ta<i. koX yap rouro

rwv ôjjid TrarpLcov ev elvai Xiyouacv, eVl Ta9T(OP errjo-lwv dirokavarei'^ Kapircov tou9 avvepyov^

Trapdkafjb^dvovTO^. evtoL Be tovto uTro/jLvrjfjLa T?j9

KpoviK7)<; iKeivrj^ laovopia^ dTroacoêaOai fivOo-

Xoyovaiv, et)9 purfBevb^ BovXov firjBe BecrTrorov,

TrdvTcov Be avyyevOiv koi laoTifKov vopnôpbevwv.II. "0X0)9 Be <j>aivovTai 7rpo<; rrjv avrdp/ceiav

djuLcporepoi, xal crco^pocrvvijv 6/JL0La)<i dyovre^ ra

ttXiJOtj, toov Be dXXcov dperoiv 6 jiev rrjv dvBpelav

fidXXov, 6 Be rrjv BLKaiocruvTjv riya7rrjKd)<i' el fir] vr)

Ata Bid rrjv viroKei/J-eprjv tmv TroXirev/xdTCov

eKarepov (ftvacv rj (rvvyOeiav, ou^ ofioiav ovaav,2 dvofjLOLa^ eBei irapaaKevm- ovre yap No//-a9 Bid 76

BeiXiav KareXvcre to TroXefielv, dXX^ eirl rw/jlt)

dBi/celv, ovre AvKovpyo<; eh dBcKiav KarecTKevaae

TToXefiLKov'^, dXyC virep tov pbr) dBiKelaOaL. Ta9ovv iJ7repfioXd<; dâipovvref; dpLôrepoi KaX Ta9

ivBeias dvaiTXr)povvre<; twv virapyôvTOiv irepl tou9

iroXiTa<if r)vayKdôv70 fieydXai,^ '^rjaOai fiera-

jSoXah,

m

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, i. 4-11. 2

Numa's muse, however, was gentle and humane,and he converted his people to peace and righteous-

ness, and softened their violent and fiery tempers.And if we must ascribe to the administration of

Lycurgus the treatment of the Helots, a most savageand lawless practice, we shall own that Numa was

far more Hellenic as a lawgiver, since he gave

acknowledged slaves a taste of the dignity of freedom,

by making it the custom for them to feast in the

company of their masters during the Saturnalia.^

For this too was one of the institutions of Numa, as

we are told, who thereby admitted to the enjoymentof the yearly fruits of the earth those who had helpedto produce them. Some, however, fancy that this

custom was a reminder of the equality whichcharacterized the famous Saturnian age, when there

was neither slave nor master, but all were regardedas kinsmen and equals.

II. In general, both alike manifestly strove to

lead their peoples to independence and sobriety ;

but as regards the other virtues, the one set his

affections more on bravery, the other on righteousness ;

unless, indeed, the different natures or usages onwhich the government of each was based requireddifferent provisions. For it was not out of cowardice

that Numa put a stop to the waging of war, but to

prevent the commission of injustice ; neither was it

to promote the commission of injustice that Lycurgusmade his people warlike, but that they might not

suffer injustice. Accordingly, in removing the ex-

cesses and supplying the deficiencies of their

citizens, both were forced to make great innovations.

* A mid-winter harvest festival in honour of Saturnus.

387

s^ PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 Kal /jLTjv rrj<; re BiaTdêco<; kclI t^9 ^laipeaeto^TOiv TroXiTev/udrcov o-xXikt] fiev oLKpaTco^ rj tov

'Nofjbd /cat OepanevTiKT) tov ttXt^ôu?, ck '^pvao-

yowv KOI avXrjrcbv Kal (tkvtotojjlwv crujii/jLiyT] riva

Kal TrafiTTOLKtXov dirocfiaivovTO^ Sijfiov, avarrjpaBe

rj AvKOVpyeio^ Kal dpLaroKpaTLKrj, rd^ fiev

fiavav(Tov<; drroKaOaipovaa Te;^zâ9 etV olk€T(ov Kal

fieroiKcov ')(jelpa^ aurou? Be tov<; TroXtra? eh rrjv

daTTiBa Kal to Bopv avvdyovaa, iroXepbov %e£/)o-

rex^cL'^ '^cil OepdiTOVTa^; "Apeo)? ovra<;, dXXo Be

ovBev elB6Ta<i ovBe fjL€XeT(ovTa<; rj ireiOeadai rot?

4 dpxovo'i /cal Kparetv rwv nroXefiiwv. OvBe yap^pryyLtartfecrâi rot? iXevOepoL^ ef?)i^, 7va eXev-

Oepoi TravTeXw^ Kal KaOdira^ waiv^ dXX! r}v 17

irepi rd %/)r//AaTa KaraaKevrj BeBo/jbivr] BovXocf;

Kal EtXwcTiz^, wcnrep r} irepl to Belirvov Kal o-^lrov

BiaKovia. ]Slojiid<i Be ovBev Bi-eKpive tolovtov,

akXd ra? fiev crTpaTLWTLKd^ eiravae irXeoveîa^yTOV Be dXXov ovK eKcoXvae %/077/xaTio-ôi', ovBe tî^

5 TOLavTr)v KaTeaTopeaev dv(op.aXiav, dXXd kga,

ttXcvto) TTpolevai fi^xpt' Traz/ro? i(f>rjKe, Kal ireviafi

TToXXrjf; dOpoLôfievrj^ Kal viroppeovar]^ eh ttjv

ttoXlv r)fieXy]cre, Beov evOv^ iv dpxfj* firjBeTro)

iroXXrjf; firjBe jxeydXr]^ dvLdOTrjTO^ ovarjf:, dXX* €Tt

Toh yStOfc? ofiaXcov Kal TrapaTrXrjaicov ovToyv,

evaT^vai 7rp6<; ttjv rrXeoveîaVy wairep AvKOvpyoî^Kal (j)vXdâa0at ra? a7r' avT7]<; /9Xa/5a9, ov fitKpd^

yevofieva<i, dXXd tcov 'jT\ei(TT(ov Kal pLeyiaToyv

KaKtaVy oaa avvrjvex^Vy or'rrepp.a Kal dpX7]V irapa-6 <TXov(Ta<^. 6 Be t/}? 77}? dvaBaajxh^ ovt€ tov

AvKovpyov, i/jLol BoKelv, Trotel -yfreKTOv yev6/jL€vo<;

ovTe TOV No/judv fir) yevop^vos* rw plv yap eBpav

388

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, ii. 3-6

And surely, as regards the arrangement andclassification of the citizens under their respective

governments, Numa's was strongly popular andinclined to favour the masses, resulting in a pro-miscuous and variegated commonalty of goldsmiths,

musicians, and leather-workers ;but that of Lycurgus

was rigid and aristocratic, relegating the mechanical

arts into the hands of slaves and aliens, but confiningthe citizens themselves to the use of the shield andthe spear, so that they were artificers of war andservants of Ares, but knew and cared for nothingelse than to obey their commanders and master their

enemies. For freemen were not even permitted to

transact business, that they might be entirely andforever free, but the whole apparatus of business wasturned over to slaves and Helots, just like the pre-

paration and serving of their meals. Numa, on the

contrary, made no such distinctions, but, while he

put a stop to military rapacity, he prohibited noother gainful occupation. Nor did he reduce the

great inequalities resulting therefrom, but left the

acquisition of wealth wholly unrestricted, and paidno attention to the great increase of poverty and its

gradual influx into the city. And yet it was his

duty at the very outset, while as yet there was no

general or great disparity of means, but people still

lived on much the same plane, to make a stand

against rapacity, as Lycurgus did, and take measuresof precaution against its mischiefs ; for these werenot trifling, but furnished the seed and source of the

most and greatest evils of after times. But as

regards the redistribution of the land, Lycurgus, in

my opinion, is not to be censured for making it, nor

Numa for not making it. In the one case, the re-

3^9

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kal KprjTTiBa T7J<; TroXtreta? tJ la6T7jT7]p vep.7](TLV, ct)9 sIkq^ iartt Kara

Xo^pciv pevovcrav.

III. Tf;? he irepl tou? ydp,ov<; /cal ra^ T€Kva)a€C<;

KOLVcovla^ TO d^7]\6TV7rov opOcd^ /cal 7ro\iTiKa)<;

epiTOLOVVTe^ dpLcporepoi toI<; dpBpdaiv ov Karairav eh tovto avvr]v6)(^97]aavy aXV 'Pw/xato?

pev dvrjp Uavo)'; e%&jv iraiBorpoîa^, v(p' erepov8e ireicrdeU Beopevov TeKvcov, iîararo t^?

yvvaiK6<;, ifcBoaOao /cat perefcBoadat Kvpio^

vTrdpxôv, ê AdKcov, olkol rrj<i yvvat,Ko<;

ov(rr]<; Trap* avrw xal rov ydpov p6vovro<; eirl

Tcov ef dp^7j<; BiKaiwv, pereBlBov rw ireiaavTi

2 T?}? KOivcovia^ €t9 rifcvcoaiv. noWol Be, (oa-irep

etprjrai, Kal 7rapaKa\ovvTe<; elcrijyov ef wv av

eBoKovv pdXiara TratSa? eveiBet'; Kal dr/aOovf;

ryevicrOai. tw ovv t] BiaKpLatq rcov iOiapSiv; rj

ravra pev la'xypa Kal aKparo<; dirdOeia 7r/909

yapueTTjv Kal ra rapdrrovra Kal KaraKalovra

l^7}\oTV7rlai<i tov<; ttoXXov^, eKelva Be wairep

ai(T')(yvopevr) drvcpia ti<;, irapaKaXuppa rrjv iy-

yvrjv e(j)eXKopevrj Kal to BvaKapTepr)Tov iôp,o-

XoyovpevT) t^9 KOLV(ovia<i;

3 "Eri Be paXXov r) irepl Ta<s TrapOevovf} <f>vXaKr)

KaTeaToXTai tS No/z.a 7rpo9 to OPjXv Kal Koapiov7)

Be TOV AvKovpyov iravTairacnv dvaireiTTapevr)

Kal dOrjXvfi oixra Toh irotTjTah Xoyov 7rape(r)(^7jK€.

(paLvop^TjplBa^ T€ yap avTa^ diroKaXovaiVj m

390

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, ii. 6-111. 3

suiting equality was the foundation and base of his

polity ; but in the other, since the allotment of lands

was recent, there was no urgent reason for introduc-

ing another division, or for disturbing the first assign-

ment, which probably was still in force.

III. With regard to community in marriage and

parentage, though both, by a sound policy, inculcated

in husbands a freedom from selfish jealousy, stilL

their methods were not entirely alike. The Romanhusband, if he had a sufficient number of children to

rear, and another, who lacked children, could per-suade him to the step, relinquished his wife to him,

having the power of surrendering her entirely, or onlyfor a season ; but the Spartan, while his wife remainedin his house, and the marriage retained its original

rights and obligations, might allow any one who

gained his consent to share his wife for the purposeof getting children by her. And many husbands, as

we have said,^ would actually invite into their homesmen whom they thought most likely to procure themhandsome and noble children. What, then, is the

difference between the two customs .'' We may say,

perha])s, that the Spartan implies a complete indiffer-

ence to the wife, and to the jealous emotions whichconfound and consume the hearts of most men ;

while the Roman, as if with shame-faced modesty,makes a veil of the new betrothal, and concedesthat community of wives is really insupportable.

Still further, Numa's watchful care of youngmaidens was more conducive to feminine decorum

;

but the treatment of them by Lycurgus, beingentirely unconfined and unfeminine, has given oc-

casion to the poets. They call them "phainomerides,"

iLycurgus^ xv. 7.

I AH-d PLUTARCH'S LIVES

"l/SvKo^, Kal avhpoiiavet^ XocBopovcriv, <W9 Eu/ot-

Ac avv veoKTiv eêprjfxovaLv^

B6/jlov<:

ryvfivolat, fjLTjpoU Kal 7r€7r\oi<; aveipêvolî.

4 TO) lyap ovTL Tov irapOevtKov ^trcozô? al irripvyeôvK rjaav avpeppa/npîvat KCLTwOev, aX>C aveiTTva-

crovro Kal avvaveyvpbvovv oXov ev tm âStêiv

TOV /jbTjpov, Kal o-acpiaraTa to yLvojJueoov ecpi]K€

SoÔ/cX?79 eV T0UT0£9*

Kal Tctv vioprov, a? er* daTo\o<; ^tro)*'

Bvpalov afjicfA firjpbv

TTTv(rareraL, 'EpjjLiovav.

5 Sio Kal 6pa<TVT€pat Xiyovrat yeviaOai Kal irpo^

avTOv<; TrpcoTOV dpSpcoSeL^; rov^ dvBpa<;, are St)

rSdV fiev OLKQ)v dp)(ôvaai, Kara Kpdro^, ev he Tot9

hrfpôaioLf; irpdypbacn Kal yvcop^Tj^ p,era\afjL/3dvov~

crai Kal 7rapp7]aia<; rrepl rwv peyiarcov. 6 Be

No/Jbd^ ralq yaperaLa Kal rrjv

Tiprjv errjprjae irpo€LV eBlBaê Kal aicoirdv eWicrev,

OLVOV p,ev dire'xppeva'^ rb irdpîrav, Xoym Be p^tjBe

vrrep rfav dvayKaiwv dvBpb<; dvev ')(^p(op,€va^.

6 Xeyerat yovv wore yvvaiKo^; elirovar]'; Blktjv IBiav

ev dyopa Trep^yfrai, rrjv avyKXrjrov eh Oeov, irvv-

î^tprifiovaiv adapted from iêprifiovffai {leaving their homes).

392

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, iii. 3-6

hare-thighed (so Ibycus), and revile them as mad after

men. Thus Euripides says^

:—

"They leave their homes to mingle with the youths ;

Their thighs are nakedj flying free their robes."

For in fact the flaps of the tunic worn by their

maidens were not sewn together below the waist,

but would fly back and lay bare the whole thigh as

they walked. Sophocles pictures the thing very

clearly in these words ^:—

" And that young maid, whose tunic, still unsewn,

Lays bare her gleaming thighBetween its folds, Hermione."

And so their women, it is said, were too bold,

putting on men's airs with their husbands even, to

begin with, since they ruled their houses absolutely,and besides, on public occasions, taking part in de-

bate and the freest speech on the most important

subjects. But Numa, while carefully preserving to

the matrons that dignified and honourable relation to

their husbands which was bestowed on them byRomulus,^ when he tried by kindly usage to efface

the memory of the violence done them, nevertheless

enjoined great modesty upon them, forbade themall busy intermeddling, taught them sobriety, andaccustomed them to be silent

;wine they were to re-

frain from entirely, and were not to speak, even onthe most necessary topics, unless their husbands werewith them. At any rate, it is said that when a womanonce pleaded her own cause in the forum, the senate

sent to inquire of an oracle what the event might

* Andromache, 587 f. (Kirchhoff), slightly adapted.*Fragment 788 (Nauck).

» Cf. Romulus, xix. 6.

393

5~£ PLUTARCH'S LIVES

0avofiiv7]v tIvo<; apa rfi irokei (TijfieLov etrj to Yeye-

vrjfiivov, Kol T^9 aX\r)(; €V7r€L6eLa<; Kal 7rpa6T7)TOv, a)9

<yap Trap rjpcv oi laTopiKol fypd(l)0V(Ti tou? irpco-

Tou? rj (f>6vov ipL^vXiov ipyaaa/jLevovf; ^ 7ro\€/i>;-

aavTaî ahe\(ôl^ rj irarpo^ avT6')(eipa<; tj jjirjTpot;

7 yevop£Vov<;, ovroo ^VwpuZoL /j,v7]/jlov€vov(tiv otl

TTpcoTO^ fjL€V a'jre7rep,'\jraT0 yvvaiKa Xiropiof; Kap-

PlXiofit fiera t^z^ 'Pcw/x?;? ktIo-lv ereac rpiaKovTa

Kal SiaKocTLOLf; ovSevb^; toiovtov y€yov6ro<;, 'irpcoTT)

Be yvvT) TlivapCov SaXaia rovvo/xa hL7)ve)(dr] irpo^

ifcupav avTrj<; Veyaviav TapKVvlov XovirepjSov

PaaCkevovTO^;. ovrco /caXca? Kal /cocr/xto)? reray-

fiiva TCL Twv ydp.oyv tjv vtto rod vofioOerov,

IV. T§ Se aXkr) tcop irapdevwv dywyri Kal ra

irepl Ta9 eKhoaei^ ofioXoyel, rod fiev AvKovpyov

7r€7r€Lpov<; Kal opycoaa^ vvp.<fi6vovro^, oiraxi rj re

ofuXiay Beo/jL€vr)<; ijSrj rrj^ îxreciXit %a/)tT09 yKal îXias «/>%^ /jloXXov rj piaov<; Kal (po/Sov

irapa (pvcriv ^taô/jLevayv, Kal ra a-cojjLara fxufirjv

exv 7^/009 TO Ta9 Kvijaec<; avaêpeiv Kal ra^ dtSl-

vafi, ct)9 eV* ovBev dXXo ya/juovfievcop rj rb ri]<i

reKV(i)a€(o<i epyov, rSiV Be *Po)p,alcov BcoBcKaereiî

Kal vecorepa<; iKBcBovrcov ovrco yap av fidXiara

Kal TO cr(o/.La Kal ro )]0o<i Kadapov Kal dOiKrov iirl

2 TO) yafJLOvvri yiveaOai, BrjXov ovv ort ro fiev

394

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, m. 6-iv. 2

portend for the city. And for their usual gentle-ness and readiness to obey, there is strong evidencein the specific mention made of those who were less

amenable. For just as our Greek historians record

the names of those who first slew kinsfolk, or madewar on their brothers, or were parricides, or matricides,so the Romans make record of the fact that SpuriusCarvilius was the first to divorce his wife, twohundred and thirty years after the founding of Rome,there being no precedent for it ;

also that the wifeof Pinarius, Thalaea by name, was the first woman to

quarrel with her own mother-in-law, Gegania, in the

reign of Tarquinius Superbus. In such fitting and

proper manner were marriages regulated by their

lawgiver.IV. Further, the practice of the two peoples in the

matter of giving their young maids in marriageconforms to their education of them in general.

Lycurgus made them brides only when they were

fully ripe and eager for it, in order that intercourse

with a husband, coming at a time when naturecraved it, might produce a kindly love, instead of thetimorous hate that follows unnatural compulsion ; also

that their bodies might be vigorous enough to en-

dure the strain of conception and child-birth, con-

vinced as he was that marriage had no other endthan the production of children. The Romans, onthe other hand, gave their maidens in marriage when

they were twelve years old, or even younger. In

this way more than any other, it was tiiought, boththeir bodies and their dispositions would be j^ure andundefiled when their husbands took control of them.It is clear, therefore, that one practice regardednature more, with children in view ; the other re-

395

v^ PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(j)VaiKa)T€pOV TT/OO? T€KVa>(TI,V, TO Bk TjOlKCOTepOV

irpo^ (TVfipLwaLV.

ÂWafjLr)v eirKnaaiai^ re TraiBcov xal avvaye-

Xaa-fjLolfi fcal iraLBaycoyiai^ koX KOivccviai<i, irepi re

BeLTTva Kol yvfivdaia kol TraiSta? avrcov eiifxeKei-

aL-

3 7a9, €LT€ Ti9 ipydrrjv 7779 jBovXolto iroielv top

vlov elVe vavirrjyov rj 'XâXKea BcSdaKetv rj avXrjTTjV,

uxTTTep ov TTpo^ €v T6\o9 6<f)€LXovTa(; ef dp')(r]<;

ayeaOaL kol avveTno-Tpecpeadai Tot9 rjOeaiv, aXX'

blov eh vavv eTTi^dTa^ erepov ef erepa^ rjKovTa

')(^p6ia<iKol TTpoaipecrea)^ iv T0t9 KivBvvoi<; [lovov

(p6^(p TOV IBLov (TWiaraadai 77/309 to koivov,

4 aA-Xa)9 Be to xaO* avrop aKoirelv etcacrTov. xal

T0t9 P'ev 7roXXot9 ov/c dîov iyxaXetv vo/moOeTai';

eXXeiiTovaiv rj Be dyvoiav rj BC daOevetav dvBplBe ao<^Qt ffacnXetav irapaXapovTi BtjfjLov vewarTl

(TvvLaTa/iievov Kal 7rpb<; jjbrjBev avTiTelvovTo^, irepX

TL TTpoiTov^ rjv (TTrovBdcrai TrpocrrJKOv rj TralBoyv e/c-

Tpo(f>r)V Kal vicov d(7Kr](nv, oirw^ firj Bidipopoi fii^Be

Tapaxd>Bei<; yevotvro TOt? r}6ecnv, aXV et9 ev ti 78

KOivov dpeTrj<i X'xyo<^ €vOv<; i^ dp)(^rjq TrXarrofievoi

6 KoX Tvirovfjievoi avfjupalvoiev dXXT]XoL<;; Brj 7r,yoo9

re TO, dXXa Kal o-corrjpLav vo/jLcov wcpiXrjae top

AvKovpyop. fjLLKpo^ yap rjv 6 tS}v opKcop (j)6/3o<;tel

*vpuTOP Bekker corrects to vp6r'pov.

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, iv. 2-5

garded more the formation of character, with married

Hfe in view.

But surely, by his careful attention to boys, bytheir collection into companies, their discipline and

constant association, and by his painstaking arrange-ments for their meals and bodily exercise and sports,

Lycurgus proves that Numa was no more than an

ordinary lawgiver. For Numa left the bringing

up of youths to the wishes or necessities of their

fathers. A father might, if he wished, make his

son a tiller of the soil, or a shipwright, or mightteach him to be a smith or a flute-player, as if

it were not important that all of them should be

trained with one and the same end in view from the

outset, and have their dispositions formed alike ; but

rather as if they were like passengers on a ship, each

coming with a different object and purpose, and each

therefore uniting with the rest for the common good

only in times of peril, through fear of private loss,

but otherwise consulting only his own interests.

Now, it is not worth while to censure the commonrun of legislators, who fail through ignorance or

weakness. But when a wise man had consented to

be king over a people newly constituted and pliantto his every wish, what should have been his first

care, unless it was the rearing of boys and the

training of youths so that there might be no con-

fusing differences in their characters, but that they

might be moulded and fashioned from the veryoutset so as to walk harmoniously together in the

same path of virtue? This, indeed, was what

helped Lycurgus to secure, among other things, the

stability and permanence of his laws. The Spartanstook oaths to maintain these laws, it is true, but

voT.. I. ^ 397

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fir)Sia rrj<; TraiBeia'; koI Trj<; dycoy7]<; olov avehevae ^

T0i9 rjOeat tcov iraiBcov rov<; v6fiov<;, Koi (TvvqyKelcocre

TTJ Tpocpfj Tov ^TjXov rrjf} TToXtreta?, <wo-T€ irevraKO-

aicov ircov irXeLco ')(p6vov ra Kvpcoorara Kal

jjuiyLara Bia/nelvai t^? vofJboOeaia^y wairep pa(f>rifi

dxparov koX Lcr'Xûpa)<; fcada'âp,€vr]<;.

6 Nofia Be oTrep rjv reXo? t?}? TroXtreta?, ev

elpt]vr) fcal (piXta ttjv 'Fco/nrjv virdpXGtv, €vOv<;

avveêkLire' /cat fiera tî' TeXevrrjv eKsivov rov

dficpiOvpov oIkov, bv Ke/cXeicrfjuevov avro'; avvel-)(€v,

Mairep 6vtco<; iv avrw riOaaevcov KaOeipy/jievov rov

iToXefioVy e'f d/ji(f>OT€pcov dvaTTerdo-avTef; atfjuaro^

Kal v6Kpo)v rrjv 'IraXiav iveTrXrjcrav' Kal ovBe

oXiyov 'x^povov t] KaXXiGrr] Kal BiKaioTdrrj xard-

(jTaai^ €/i€ivev, are Br) Kal to avvBertKov iv avrfj,

TYjv iraiBeiav, ovk e'xpvaa.

7 "Tt ovv^^ (f)ij(TeL Tt9,*' OVK eirl to êXriov r)

'P(Ofir) TTporjXOe Tot9 TroXe/xtATo??;" epcoTMV ipcoTij/jLa

lxaKpd<i diroKpiaewf; Beofxevov tt/oo? dv6p(07rov<;

to jSeXTiov iv ttXovtg) Kal Tpvcpy koi rjyefiovia

fjbdXXov Tj acoTTjpia Kal irpaoTrjTL Kal Trj fierd

BLKaLoavv7)<i avTapKeia Tide/jL€vov<;. ov fir)v dXXdKal TOVTO AvKovpyo) TTOV Boêi por)6elv, to

^Vwjiaiov^; jjuev Tr)v iirl No/ta KaTdaTaaLV iâXXd-8 âvTa<; iinBovvai toI^ irpdyfJuaa-L too-ovtov, Aatee-

BaifJioviovf; Be dfia tw TrpeoTOV iKJSrjvac Tr)v

AvKOvpyov Btdra^tVy iK p,eyiaT(ov TaTreivoTarovf;

yeveaOai Kal Tr)v twv 'EXXtî/odz/ rjyepLOviav diro-

^ OffSeuire Bekker adopts Reiske's correction to îêSeuo-e.

398

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, iv. 5-8

this would have availed little had he not, by meansof his training and education of the boys, infused his

laws, as it were, into their characters, and made the

emulous love of his government an integral part of

their rearing. The result was that for more thanfive hundred years the sovereign and fundamentalfeatures of his legislation remained in force, like a

strong and penetrating dye.But that which was the end and aim of Numa's

government, namely, the continuance of peace and

friendship between Rome and other nations, straight-

way vanished from the earth with him. After his

death the double doors of the temple^ which he had

kept continuously closed, as if he really had war

caged and confined there, were thrown wide open,and Italy was filled with the blood of the slain.

Thus not even for a little time did the beautiful

edifice ofjustice which he had reared remain stand-

ing, because it lacked the cement of education.

"What, then!" some one will say, "was not

Rome advanced and bettered by her wars ?"

Thatis a question which will need a long answer, if I amto satisfy men who hold that betterment consists

in wealth, luxury and empire, rather than in safety,

gentleness, and that independence which is attended

by righteousness. However, it will be thought, 1

suppose, to favour the superior claims of Lycurgus,that, whereas the Romans increased in power as

they did after abandoning the institutions of Numa's

time, the Lacedaemonians, on the other hand, justas soon as they forsook the precepts of Lycurgus,sank from the highest to the lowest place, lost their

supremacy over the Greeks, and were in danger of

^ Cf . Numa, x x. 1,

399

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiaXovra^ Kivhvvevcrai irepl avaaTd(Teoi<;. ckcIvo

fievTOi T& No/Aa fiiya koI Oelov o)? d\r)6a)<;

V7rdp^€i, TO ^ev(p re fMeraTrifiTrTO) yeveaOai kol

iravra ireiOol fieTa^aXelv, koI Kparrjaai TroXew?

ovTTco (TvinreTrvevKVia^y fjLrjre ottXcov Seijdevra fiijre

^la^ Tiv6<;, ft)? AvKovpyo<; iirl rov Brj/jiov rjye tov<;

ttptcTOU?, aXXa aocfyia kol BiKatoavvrj iravra^

irpoaar/ayofievov ical auvappbocravTa,

400

LYCURGUS AND NUMA, iv. 8

utter destruction. NevertheleoS, this remains a

great feature in Numa's career, and one really

divine, that he was a stranger, and yet was

summoned to the throne, where he changed the

whole nature of the state by force of persuasion

alone, and mastered a city which was not yet in

S3mQpathy with his views ; and that he accomplishedthis without appeal to arms or any violence (unlike

Lycurgus, who led the nobles in arms against the

commons), but by his wisdom and justice won the

liearts of all the citizens and brought them into

iiarmony.

4*1

20AQN

I. AtSfyLto? o ypa/jL/jLaTiKO<; iv ry irepl tcov

aôvcov Tcov 2,6\covo<; dvriypacpy Trpo?^

AcrKXrjTrid-

hr]v îXoKXeov<; rivo^ reOeiKe Xiî-v, ivfj

top

XoXcova irarpoî ^v(j)opLcovo<; airocpaLvec irapa ttjv

TCOV dWcov Boâv, oaoi fJLep.vrjvrai, XoXcovo^;.

K^TjKeaTiBov <yap avTOv airavre^ ofiaXct)^ yeyo-vivai Xiyovatv, dvBpo^ ovaia plvy w? âai, koX

BvvdpLei fiicrov twv ttoXltcov, ocKia'; Be irpwTi]^2 KaTCL yevo<i' r)v yap K.oBpiB7)<; dveKaOev. ttjv Bi

firjTepa tov 'ôXwvo'^ 'HpaKXeLBi]<; 6 IIovTiKb<;

laropel t^9 TleiaLaTpdrov firjTpoî dveyfridv ye-veaOaL. koX (îXia to TrpwTov rjv avTol<; ttoXXt}

fiev Bia Trjv avyyevecav, ttoXXt) Be Bta Trjv

ev(j>vtav Kal copav, c«9 eviol (paatv, ep(OTLKOi<; tov

UeiaiaTpaTOv ddiraôpêvov tov '^6Xcovo<i. oOev

vcTTepov, 009 60LK€v, €t9 Bia(j>opav avTcov iv TyiroXiTeia KaTaaTavTwv ovBev ijveyKCV rj ex^pacTKXrjpov ou8* dypiov irdOo^, dXXa irapepLeivevifcelva t^ BUaia Tat<; '\jrv)(a2<;,

/cal TrapecpyXaê,

Tv(l>6fieva Alou 7rvpo<; €Tt ^(oaav cjiXoya,

3 rr/i^ ipcoTiKrjv fiv'^p.rjv Kal x^piv. otl Be irpo^ tov^

KaXoijf; ovk rjv iyypo^; 6 zôXcov ovB^ ^KpcoTL 6ap-

paXeo<;"dvTavaaTTjvat 7rvKTrj<; o7rco<; is is x^'po^j o" Ka\a5 <ppovei.

(Sophocles, Trachiniat, 441 f.)

404

SOLON

I. DiDYMUS the grammarian, in his reply to

Aselepiades on Solon's tables of law, mentions a

remark of one Philocles, in which it is stated that

Solon's father was Euphorion, contrary to the opinionof all others who have written about Solon. For

they all unite in saying that he was a son of

Execestides, a man of moderate wealth and influence

in the city, but a member of its foremost family,

being descended from Codrus. Solon's mother,

according to Heracleides Ponticus, was a cousin of

the mother of Peisistratus. And the two men wereat first great friends, largely because of their kinship,and largely because of the youthful beauty of

Peisistratus, with whom, as some say, Solon was

passionately in love. And this may be the reason

why, in later years, when they were at variance

about matters of state, their enmity did not bringwith it any harsh or savage feelings, but their former

amenities lingered in their spirits, and preserved

there,

^^smouldering with a lingering flame of Zeus-sent

fire,"^

the grateful memory of their love. And that Solon

was not proof against beauty in a youth, and madenot so bold with Love as ''to confront him like a

boxer, hand to hand," may be inferred from his

*Euripides, Bacchae, 8.

405

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

€K T6 ratp TTOirffjudrcov avrov Xaffeiv co-tl, kui

vojJLov eypayjre BLayopevovra SovXov fxr] ^rjpaXoL-

(êiv jjLrjBe iraihepaarelv, eU rrjv rcov KoXSyv

fiepiSa KoX a€fjUV(op iTnrrjBevfjLdrcov riO€fjL€Vo<; to

irpaypu, kol rpoirov tcv^ tov<; d^lov^ irpoKoXov-4 fjL€vo<; a)v TOv<; dva^lov^ d'rrrj'kavve. Xiyerai Be

Kol Tieiaia-rparo^ ipaarr)<; Hdpfiov yeviaOaiy kol

TO dyakfjia Tov "E/o&)to9 iv KKahr][xeLa Kadie-

pwaai, OTTov to irvp avdirTovaiv at Tr]v iepdv

Xa/jLTrdSa huaOeovTe^.

II. 'O S' ovv l,ok(ov Tr)v ovdiav tov 7raTpo<;

iXaTTcioaavTO^ et? (fnXavOpcoTTia^ Ttvd^, w? cprjatv'

EpyLttTTTTO?, Koi .%a/3iTa9, ovfc av dirop^crafi twv

ôvXopbivcov eTrap/celPy alhovpuevo^ he Xafi/Sdvecv

Trap' eTepcov i^ olKia^ yeyovo)^ eldcafjiivTj^ eT€poi<;

jSorjdeiv, cjpfjurjae veo^ cov h'L 7rpo<; ejJLTropiav.

KaiTOi (paalv eviot TroXvireipia'; eveKa (jlclXXov koI

laTopla<i fj '^(^prjpLaTKTfiov TrXavTjOrjvai tov XoXcova.

2 Go^la'i fjuev yap rjv opLoXoyovjxevoa^ epaaTrj^, 6<i

ye Koi TTpeapvTepo^; o)v eXeye"yrjpda/ceiv alel

TToXXd BiSacTfco/jLevo^'^*^ TtXovTov S' ovK eOav/xaêv,dXXd Kal (lir)(nv oixoiw^ irXovTelv o5 re ^

TToXv^ dpyvpo^ iaTi

Kal y^pvao^ Kal yrj<i irvpoôpov irehia

LTTTTOL 0^ r)/iLovoi T€, Kal (p jjLOva TavTa irdpeaTi,

yaaTpl tg Kal irXevpy Kal ttoctIv djSpd iraOeZv,

iraiho^ T rjheyvvatKoî, iirTjv Kal TavT d(j)(,K7]Tai,

rJlSrjy avv S' w/dt; yiveTai, appbohia.

*TvpdffKco 8' aU\ rroWa 5iSa<TK6fievos. Fragment 18 (Bergk,

Poet. Lyr. Or. ii.'^p. 47).^

'^lo-Jy Toi irKovTovaiv Zrcp ttoAus 6.pyvp6s iffTiv, jc.t.A.,

Fragment 24 (Bergk), verses 1-6.

406

SOLON, I. 3-II. 2

poems. He also wrote a law forbidding a slave

to practise gymnastics or have a boy lover, thus

putting the matter in the category of honourable and

dignified practices, and in a way inciting the worthyto that which he forbade the unworthy. And it is

said that Peisistratus also had a boy lover, Charmus,and that he dedicated the statue of Love in the

Academy, where the runners in the sacred torch race

light their torches.

IL Solon, then, after his father had impaired his

estate in sundry benevolent charities, as Hermippustells us, might have found friends enough who were

willing to aid him. But he was ashamed to take

from others, since he belonged to a family whichhad always helped others, aud therefore, while still

a young man, embarked in commerce. x\nd yetsome say that he travelled to get experience and

learning rather than to make money. For he was

admittedly a lover of wisdom, since even when he

was well on in years he would say that he ^'

grew old

ever learning many things"; and he was not an

admirer of wealth, but actually says that two men are

alike wealthy of whom one

'^much silver hath.And gold, and wide domains of wheat-bearing soil,

Horses and mules;while to the other only enough

belongsTo give him comfort of food, and clothes, and

shoes.

Enjoyment of child and blooming wife, when these

too come.And only years commensurate therewith are his."

407

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 oXTC eripcoOi, Xiyer

'X.prjfiara S*l/jL€ipco fjukv 6')(6LV, aSUo)^ S^ ire-

iraadai

ovfc ideXo)' irdvTW'i varepov rjXOe Slkt).

KoaXvei he ovhev top ajaOov koI ttoXltikop avBpaprjTe T(bv TrepLTTcov ttjv KTrjaiv ev aTTovBrj rl-

deaOat, p,^re ttJ? ')(p€La<; tmv avay/caLcov kol

LKavcov KaTa(ppoveiv, ev he Tot9 Tore y^povoi'^,

KaO^ ^)^Giohov, ep<yov ovhev rjv oWiSo?, ovhe Te^vr}

hia(j)opav ecpepev, epîropia he Koi hoâv el')(ev

oLKeLovpevr] ra âpâpCKa koX irpoêvovaa j)L-

Xta? â(TiXeo)v kol Trpaj/jbaTav ep.Trelpov^ iroiov-

4 ca TToWcov. evLOL he Kal iroXecov ol/ciaral <ye-

ybvaai peyakcdv, co? Koi Maaa-aXta^ JIp(t)Ti<i

vTTo K-eXrcov tmv irepl rbv 'VoSavov ayaTrrjOeC^.KoX SaXrjv he âaiv efiTropia y^prâaaOai koX

*l'7nroKpdT7]v tov /jLaOrj/jiariKov, koI TiXdrcavL rrj^

dTToh7]p.ia<; eôhiov eXalov rLvo<^ ev AlyvTrro) hid-

OecTiv yeveaOai.III. To 8' ovv evhdiravov t& XoXwvl teal vypov

7r/?09 Tr)V hiacTav, Kal to ipopri/cooTepov rj (jyCXoao-

(fxjorepov ev Tot? Trooj/xaai hcaXeyecrOat wepl toov

rjhovMV, TOV €/j,7ropiKov ol'ovTat îov irpoaTe-

TpL(f)Oac' TToXXov^ yap e'XpvTa Kwhvvovf; kol

peydXov<i dvTairaLTelv irdXtv eviraOela^ TLvd<; Kal

2 dTcoXav(Tei<;. otl h^ avTov ev Tfj tcov irevrjTcov

fiepiht p^ciXXov rj ttj tcoi^ TrXovalcov eTarre, hrjXoveCTTLV €K TOVTCOV

lloXXol yap irXovTevaL KaKoi, dyaOol he ire-

vovTavdXX* rjpeh axjToh ov hLafxeL-ôp^da

408

SOLON, II. 3-III. 2

However, in another place he says :—*

'' Wealth I desire to have ; but wrongfully to get it,

I do not wish. Justice, even if slow, is sure."

And there is no reason why a good statesman shouldeither set his heart too much on the acquisitionof superfluous wealth, or despise unduly the use of

what is necessary and convenient. In those earlier

times, to use the words of Hesiod,^^^ work was no

disgrace," nor did a trade bring with it social inferi-

ority, and the calling ofa merchant was actually heldin honour, since it gave him familiarity with foreign

parts, friendships with foreign kings, and a large

experience in affairs. Some merchants were actuallyfounders of great cities, as Protis, who was beloved

by the Gauls along the Rhone, was of Marseilles.

Thales is said to have engaged in trade, as well as

Hippocrates the mathematician ; and Plato defrayedthe expenses of his sojourn in Egypt by the sale

of oil. ^ ,

III. Accordingly, if Solon's way of living was

expensive and profuse, and if, in his poems, he speaks

of pleasure with more freedom than becomes a

philosopher, this is thought to be due to his

mercantile life; he encountered many and great

dangers, and sought his reward therefor in sundry

luxuries and enjovments. But that he classed

himself among the tooo^ratherthan the rich, is clear

from these verses :—^'^'^

" For often evil men are rich, and good men poor ;

But we will not exchange with them

^ Fragment 13 (Bergk), verses 7 f.

« Works and Days, 311.^Fragment 15 (Bergk).

4°?

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T% aperi]^ top irXovrov irrel to fxev epLirehov

alei,

'X^p^fiara S' avOpcorrcov dWore d\\o<; eêe.

3 T7J Be TTOLTjaeL KaT ap-â^ fxev eU ovEev dîov 80

(TTTOvBri^t aXXd irai^wv eoLKe Trpoaxp^jo'CLcyOaL/cat Trapdjcov eavrov iv rSt a-xôkdêiv vajepovBe Kol yvd)/JLa<; everetve î\oa6ôvC diroXoyc-

(TfjLov^ T€ TO)v TTeTTpayfievcov eôpra koX irporpo-7rd<; iviaxov fcal vov6€(Tia<^ koI iirLTrXt^êi^; npo'i

4 Tou? ^KOrjvaiov^;. evioi Be âaiv on Kal rou?

vofiov^ €7r6X€ipr]or€v ii>T€Lva<; eh eiro^ eêveyKccv,Kal Biafivrjixovevovai ttjv dpxv^ ovt(o<; expvdav'

II/xwTa fjiev exj-XJ^p-eaOa Ad KpoviBrj âaiXrjl

Oea-fJLol^ TolaBe tv^V^ dyaOrjv Kal kvBo<; OTracr-

aai.

^tXocro(j)La<; Be rod tjOlkov /ndXicrra to ttoXltl-

Kov, Sairep ol TrXelaToi tcov crocpcjv, r/ydiTrjaev.

iv Be Tot? (j)vcriKOL<; d7rXov<; iaTL Xiav Kal dpxacof;,ft)9 BijXoV €K TOVTCOV

5 *E«: ve<j)eXr)<; TreXeTai xôvo^; p^vo^ tjBe %aXaf?;9'

PpovTT] 8' eK Xapirpd<; ylverai d(TT€poTTrj<i.

e'f dvep.(ov Be OdXaaaa TapdaaeTar rjv Be Tt9

avTTjv

p,r) Ktvfj, irdvTCOv ecrrl BiKaLordrr).

Kal oXo)9 eoLKev 7] SdXea) p,6vov crocfyia Tore

TrepaiTepo) t^9 p^€ta9 iîKecrdai Ty Oecopia' Tol<i

410

SOLON, III. 2-5

Our virtue for their wealth, since one abides

alway.While riches change their owners every day."

And he seems to have composed his poetry at first

with no serious end in view, but as amusement anddiversion in his hours of leisure. Then later, he putphilosophic maxims into verse, and interwove manypolitical teachings in his poems, not simply to record

and transmit them, but because they contained

justifications of his acts, and sometimes exhortations,

admonitions, and rebukes for the Athenians. Some

say, too, that he attempted to reduce his laws to

heroic verse before he published them, and they giveus this introduction to them :

—" First let us offer prayers to Zeus, the royal son of

Cronus,That he may give these laws of ours success and

fame." ^

In philosophy, he cultivated chiefly the domain of

political ethics , like most of the wise men of the

time ; and in physics, he is very simple and anti-

quated, as is clear from the following verses :—

" From clouds come sweeping snow and hail.

And thunder follows on the lightning's flash.

By winds the sea is lashed to storm, but if it be

Unvexed, it is of all things most amenable." ^

And in general, it would seem that Thales wasthe only wise man of the time who carried his

speculations beyond the realm of the practical ; the

1Fragment 31 (Bergk).

2Fragment 9, verses 1-2 ; and fragment 12 (Bergk).

411

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Be dWoi<; airo r?}? TroXiTi/cijî dperrj^ rovvofia rr)<;

ao(j)Ca^ vTTTJpê.

TV, TeveaOai Se fier* aXKrfKoiv ev re Ae\.(f>o2^

o/jLgv XiyovTac Kal irdXcv ev KopivOo), HepidvSpov

crvWoyov riva kolvov avTOJV koX crvfxiroa-Lov

Karaa-Kevda-avTO^. en Bk fiaXkov eh d^lcofia Kal

Boâv avTov<; Karecnnfjaev rj rod TpLTToBo<; TreptoBo^

Kol Bid irdvTcov dvaKVKX'>]<TL<; Kal dvOv7r€L^t<; fier

2 ev/JL€veLa<; (j>L\oTLfjLOV jevofjLejnj. Kwcov ydp, w?

<j)a(TL, KarayovTcov (rayrjvrjv, Kal êvcov €K M^X?;-Tov TrpiafJLevcov tov ^6\ov ovTrco <j)avepov ovra,

')(^pvaov'; i(f)dvr] TpLirov^ ekKOfievo^, ov Xeyovaiv

*EXevTjv irXeovaav Ik Tpoia^ avroOi KaOelvat

')(pr}afjLOV Tivo^ dva/JLvrjcrOelaav iraXaiov. yevo-

fjLevrj<; Be to?? êvoL<; irpcoTov avTiXoyia^ tt/jo? toi'9

dXiia<; irepl tov TpliroBo';, elra Toyv iroXewv

dvaBeâ/iiepcov ttjv BLa(f>opdv d)(^pL iroXefiov irpo-

eXOovaav, dveVkev dfx<f>OTepOL<; r) HvOia tw aocjxo-

3 TttTft) TOV TpiTToBa diToBovvat. Kal irpoiTOV fiev

direaTdXr) Trpb'i SaXrjv eh IS/LlXtjtov, eKOvaiw^

Tcov K.aKov evl Bcopovfievcov eKelvo) irepl ov irpo*;

diravTaî Ofiov MtXrjaLOV^ eTToXe/iirjcrav. SdXeco

Be BiavTa aoôoTepov d7ro(f)aivovTo<; avTOv tt/jo?

eKelvov rJK€V dir eKeivov 8' avdi^ direGTaki] Trpo?

aXKov Q)9 (TO(j)ci)Tepov, elTa Trepucov Kal dva-

TTep.'TTOfievo^ ovTco^ iirl %aXrjv to BevTepov d<f)l-

KeTOy Kal Te\o<i eh St]ffa<; eK MlX7]tov KO/iiaOehTO)

*l(Tfj,r]vl(pÂttoXXcovl Ka$iepco$i],

412

SOLON, III. 5-iv. 3

rest ^got the name of wisdom from their excellence

as statesmen.

IV. They are all said to have met together at

Delphi, and again in GDrinth, where Periander

arranged something like a joint conference for them,and a banquet. But what contributed still more to

their honour and fame was the circuit which the

tripod made among them, its passing round throughall their hands, and their mutual declination of it,

with generous expressions of good will. Some Coans,as the story goes, were dragging in a net, and some

strangers from Miletus bought the catch as yetunseen. It proved to contain a golden tripod which

Helen, on her voyage from Troy, is said to havethrown in there, wlien she called to mind a certain

ancient oracle. First the strangers had a disputewith the fishermen about the tripod, and then their

cities took up the quarrel and went at last to war,

whereupon the Pythian priestess of Apollo told both

parties in an oracle that the tripod must be given to

the wisest man. So in the first place it was sent to

Thales at Miletus, the Coans willingly bestowingupon him alone that for which they had waged war

against all the Milesians together. But Thales

declared that Bias was a wiser man than he, and the

tripod was sent to Bias. From Bias, in his turn,it was dispatched to another, as wiser than he. Soit went the rounds and was sent away by each in

turn, until at last it came to Thales for the secondtime. Finally, it was carried from Miletus to Thebesand dedicated to Ismenian Apollo.

^ The names usually given in the list of the Seven WiseMen are : Bias of Priene, Chilon of Sparta, Cleobulus of

Lindus, Periander of Corinth, Pittacus of Mitylene, Solon of

Athens, and Thales of Miletus. See chapter xii. 4.

413

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 ®e6(j)pacrT0<; Be ^rjat, irpcorov fiev et? Upirjirqv

^lavTt Tov TpiTToBa ireixÔrjvaL, Sevrepov 8' et?

MiXrjTOV ©aXfj Btai/ro? airoirefJu'âvTor ovrco Se

Sia iravTcov ttoXlv eh Wiavra irepieXOe'lv, TeXo9 he

eh Ae\(pov<; aTToaraXrjvaL. ravra jjlIv ovv vtto

irXeiovcov re9pv\r)Tat, ttXtjv on to Bcjpov dvrl tov

Tpi7ro8o<; ol fiev (fyiaXrjv vtto Kpotaov iref^pOetaav,

ol Be iroTrjpLov Ba6vK\€0V<; airoXiiTovTo^ elvai

Xeyovacv.V. 'Iota 8* *Avaxdpor€(o<; re

7rpo<; SoXwva kol

ttoXlv ©aXect) avvovaLav tlvcl koX X6yov<; ava-

ypd(f)ovcn roiovTovfi.^

Kvaxapcnv fiev eh 'A6)]pa<;

(paalv 67tI rrjv ^6Xcovo<; olKiav eXOovra Koirretv,

KOI Xeyetv co? feiô? cov a^lKrai ^tXiav 7TOir]a6fi€vo<;

Kal êviav TTpb^ avrov. airoKpivafxevov Be rod

%6Xcovo<; ft)9 ot/coL peXnov iarc iroieladai ^tXta?,**OvKovVi^ (j)dvat Tov*Avd)(âpatv, "avrb^; uiv oXkol

2 (TV TTolrjo-ai cîXlav koX ^tijiav irpo^ rip,d<;.^* ovrco Brj

davfxdaavTa rrjv dy")(ivoiav tov dvBpo^ tov ^6X(ova

BeâaOai (j)iXo(j>p6vo)<i,teal y^povov tlvcl KaTaayeiv

Trap avTWy tjBtj to, Brj/jLoaia irpdTTOVTa Kal avv-

TaTTOfievov tou? vojjlov^. tov ovv Âvd')(^cLpaLv 81

TTvOofjievov KaTayeXdv t^9 TTpajfiaTeLa^ tov SoXw-1^09, olofievov jpd/ji/iiaaiv icpeêiv Ta9 dBiKLa^; koI

7rXeov€îa<^ tmv ttoXltmv, d pi^jBev tmv dpa)(yL(i}v

Biacf)epei-v, dXX^ a)9 eKetva tov<; fiev dcrdeveh fcal

Xe7rTov<; twv dXidKOfievcDV Kadeêtv, vtto Be twv3 BvvaTcov Kal TrXovalcov BLappayi]aea6aL, tov Be

%6Xa)va 71/909 ravTd cjâcriv elirelv oTi Kal crvv-

OrjKa<^ dvOpcoTTOi (pvXaTTOvarLV, a? ovBcTepq) Xvari-

4T4

SOLON, IV. 4-v. 3

Theophrastus, however, says that the tripod wassent in the first place to Bias at Priene, and in the

second place to Thales at Miletus, at the instance of

Bias, and so passed through the hands of all the wise

men until it came round again to Bias, and finally wassent to Delphi. These, then, are the more commonversions of the tale. But some say that the gift

thus passed from hand to hand was not the tripodnow seen at Delphi, but a bowl sent there byCroesus ; and others that it was a beaker left there

by Bathycles.V. In particular we are told of private intercourse

between Solon and Anacharsis, and between Solon

and Thales, of which the following accounts are

given.^ Anacharsis came to Athens, knocked at

Solon's door, and said that he was a stranger whohad come to make ties of friendship and hospitalitywith him. On Solon's replying that it was better to

make one's friendships at home, "Well then," said

Anacharsis,'' do thou, who art at home, make me

thy friend and guest." So Solon, admiriug the

man's ready wit, received him graciously and kepthim with him some time. This was when he was

already engaged in public affairs and compiling his

laws. Anacharsis, accordingly, on learning whatSolon was about, laughed at him for thinking that

he could check the injustice and rapacity of the

citizens by written laws, which were just like spiders'webs ; they would hold the weak and delicate who

might be caught in their meshes, but would be torn

in pieces by the rich and powerful. To this Solon is

said to have answered that men keep their agree-ments with each ether when neither party profits by

^ In chapters, v. and vi.

415

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

reXe? io-rt Trapafiaivccv r&v de/jievcov' Koi tou?

v6fM0u<; auTO? ovrco<; apfioêrai, Tot9 7ro\trai,<; MareTTcicTL Tov 7rapavofji6LV jSikTiov iinBeiâi to Bikuio-

irpayecv. aWa ravra fiev co?^

K.va")(ap(Ji^ eiKaêv

CLTri^T} jjuaXkov rjKar iXTriSa tov X6\covo<;.

€(J)t]

Be KCLicelvo Oavjidêtv 6 ^KvdâpaL^; ifCKXtjcrla

irapayevojxevo^ , otl Xeyovcn fiev ol aocpol Trap'

''EX\r]ai, KpLVovcri Be ol dfiaOeL'^,

VI. IT/Jo? âXrjv B' eh MlXtjtov eXOovTa tov

'%6\owa Oavjjbdêiv otl ydpLOV kov TTaiBoTTOita^ to

Trapdrrav rjpêXrjKe. kol tov SaXrjv Tore fiev

cri(07rrjaai, BiakLirovTa B^ o\i<ya<^ rjfi€pa<i civBpa

irapaaKevdaai êvov, dpTLco<; rjfceiv (pda/covTaBe/caTalov e'f Âdrjvcov. irvOopevov Be tov Xo-

X(ovo<; el Bij tl Kaivov ev Tah ^KOrjvai^, BeBiBay-

fievov a 'xpr] Xeyeiv tov dvOpcoirov,**

OvBev,''' elirelv,"erepov, el fir) vt) Aia veavia-KOV tlvo'; rjv eKcpopa

2 Kal TTpovTrefjLTrev rj ttoX^?. tjv yap vi6<;, co? e(j)a-

aav, dvBpof; evBoôv kol irpMTevovTo^ dpeTrj tcov

TToXiTwv' ov rraprjv Be, dXX^ djroBijpelv e<f)a(Tav

avTOV rjBrj ttoXvv ')(p6vov.^^ "'H? BvaTV)(rj^ eKelvo'^T

^dvac TOV ôXfova." Ttva Be oivopâôv avTov;^^

""}ifcov(Ta,^* (pdvai,'*

Tovvofia,^' tov dvOpcoTrov,"aXV ov p.V7}fjLovevo}* TrXrjv otl ttoXv^ X6yo<; rjv av-

Tov (Toîa<; Kal BLKaLoauvti<;.'^ ovtco Bt) Ka6' cKddTrjv

aTToKpLaiv T(p ^6(5(p TTpOG-ayofievov tov ôXcava

Kal T6X09 rjBif) (TVVT€Tapay/JLevov avTov viro/SdX-

XeLv Tovvop,a tw êvqy, irvvOavo/jLevov p,r] 'ZoXcovoî

3 TcOvrjKobf: vl6<i CDVOfid^GTO. ^rjaavTO<i Be tov

dvOpdiTTov, TOV pev 6pp.r}(Tai TraieLv ttjv KecpaX^vKal TaXXa iroielv Kal Xeyeiv a (TvpâiveL to??

416

SOLON, V. 3-vi. 3

the breaking of them, and he was adapting his lawsto the citizens in such a manner as to make it clear

to all that the practice of justice was more advanta-

geous than the transgression of the laws. But theresults justified the conjecture of Anacharsis rather

than the hopes of Solon. It was Anacharsis, too,who said, after attending a session of the assembly,that he was amazed to find that among the Greeks,the wise men pleaded causes, but the fools decidedthem.

VI. On his visit to Thales at Miletus, Solon is said

to have expressed astonishment that his host was

wholly indifferent to marriage and the getting of

children. At the time Thales made no answer, buta few days afterwards he contrived to have a stranger

say that he was just arrived after a ten days' journeyfrom Athens. When Solon asked what news therewas at Athens, the man, who was under instructions

what to say, answered :'' None other than the

funeral of a young man, who was followed to the

grave by the whole city. For he was the son, as I

was told, of an honoured citizen who excelled all

others in virtue ; he was not at the funeral of his

son; they told me that he had been travellingabroad for a long time." ^^O the miserable man! "

said Solon; "pray, what was his name?" "Iheard the name," the man said, ^''but I cannotrecall it ; only there was great talk of his wisdomand justice." Thus every answer heightened Solon's

fears, and at last, in great distress of soul, he told

his name to the stranger and asked him if it wasSolon's son that was dead. The man said it was ;

whereupon Solon began to beat his head and to doand say everything else that betokens a transport of

417

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ireptriTadova-if rov Be ®aXrjv iTrc'XajSofievov avrov

Kol yekdaavra, "TavTa roi" (pdvai,," w XoXcov,

ifi€ yd/JLOV KoX TraiBoTTOua'; d(j)L(TT7j(Ti.v,a koI ere

KarepeLiTeL rov ippcojubeviaraTOv. dXXa Odppei tcov

Xoycov ev6/ca rovrcov ov ydp elciv dX'qOel^.^^ ravra

fiev ovv '^Fip/iLTTTTOf; laropelv (prjai, Udrai/cov, 09

ecpacTfce rrjv AlacoTTov '\jru^rjv e^îv.

VII. "Atotto? Be Koi dy6vvr}<; 6 t5> (po^fo t^9

aTTOySoX?}? TTjv KTrjaiv (OV y^prj 7rpOLefjLevo<i' ovtm

yap dv Ti9 ov ttXovtov, ov Boâv, ov ao(f>i,av

dyairâeie irapayevofjievrjv, BeBiMi; aTepeaOav,KOL yap dperrjVi rj<; KTrjfia fiecôv ovBev ovB' ijBiov,

e^caTafievrjv vtto voacov Kal (fiapixaKcov opco/iev

avT& re Sa\y fi7j yij/iavri ifkeov ovBev eU dcpo-

filav, el/ill]

fcal (fylXoyv KTYjaiv e(f>vy€ Kal olKeiayv

2 Ka\ 7raTpi.Bo<;. dWd Kal iralBa Oerov eo-;^€

iroLTjaapLevo^ avro^ rov rrjf; dB€\(f>rj<;, w? <f)aai,

Kv/ScaOov. exovarjt; ydp ri t^9 '^^X^^ dyairr]-TiKov iv eavrfi Kal 7re(j>vKVLa<;, coG-irep alaOdveadai

Kal BiavoelorOac Kal fJuvTjfioveveiv, ovro) Kal ^CkelvtevBveraL ri rovrcp Kal irpoa^veTai tmv eKTo^ 01^

OLKetov ovBev iariv, Kal Kaddirep oIkovrj ^co/jav

yvrjaicov eprj/iov BiaBoxôv, rb (piXoaropyov dWo-TpLOL Kal voQoL iTalBeî 7) Oepd-TTOvre'^ elaoLKi-

adjievoi Kal KaraXajBovre^ dfia T(p (piXetv to

(ppovTLêcv Kal BeBievat irepl avrcov eveiroLrjaav,

3 &<JT XBoi<i av dv6p(jt)7rov<; o-repporepa rfj (pvaei

irepl ydfjuov Kal yeveaecof; TralBcov Bia\€yo/i€vov<;,

elra rov'^ avTov<; eirl iraLcrlv olKorpi^fov rj Ope/j,- 82

fiaai TraWaKMv voaovan Kal dvrjaKovcn irapa-

reipofievovi Troday Kal ^wvaî dyevvel^ d<f)ievTa<:,

418

SOLON, VI. 3-V11. 3

grief. But Thales took him by the hand and said,

with a smile," This it is, O Solon, which keeps me

from marriage and the getting of children ; it

overwhelms even thee, who art the most stout-

hearted of men. But be not dismayed at this

story, for it is not true." Such_. at any rate, accord-

ing to Hermippus, is the story of Pataecus, who usedto boast that he had Aesop's soul.

VII. However, it is irrational and ignoble to .

^g;^,renounce the acquisition of what we want for fear of l^/ \ffii

losing it ; for on this principle a man cannot be grati-fied by the possession of wealth, or honour, or wisdom,for fear he may be deprived of them. Indeed, even

virtue, the most valuable and pleasing possession in

the world, is often banished by sickness and drugs.And Thales himself, though unmarried, was never-

theless not wholly free from apprehension, unless healso avoided having friends, or relations, or country.On the contrary, he had a son by his own adoption, as

we are told, Cybisthus, his sister's son. For the soul

has in itself a capacity for affection, and lovesj ust as

naturally as it perceives, understands, and remembers.It clothes itself in this capacity, and attaches itself

to those who are not akin to it, and just as if it werea house or an estate that lacks lawful heirs, this

craving for affection is entered and occupied by alien

and illegitimate children, or retainers, who, alongwith love for them, inspire anxiety and fear in

their behalf. So that you will find men of a

somewhat rugged nature who argue against marriageand the begetting of children, and then, whenchildren of their servants, or offspring of their

concubines fall sick and die, these same men are

racked with sorrow and lament abjectly. Some, too,

419

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

evcoL Se Koi kvvcov Oavdrcp koI LiriTayv al<T)(pa)<;

xal d^L(OT0)(i VTTO XvTTT]^ BiCTeOijaav. aXX* erepoi

rye TralBa^; dyadou'i aTroâXovre^ ovBh eiraOov

Beivov ovB' eiroirjo-av ala')(^p6v, dWd kol'x^pcofiepoL

4 Tft) Xociro) /Slo) Kara \6yop Bterekeaav. dadeveia

yap, ov/c evvoia, Xvira^ direpdvTOV^ iTrdyerat fcal

^6pov<; dvOpcoTTOL^ dvacTKrjToi^ viro \6yov tt/jo?

Tvxvî 049 ovB' dTToXava-t^ iyylverai, rod iroOov-

fiivov irap6vT0<;, tov fiiXXovTo^; oyBlva^; del Kal

TpofJLov^ Kal dycova^, el areprjaovTai, irapexovroâvTol^. Bel Be fi^re irevia Trpo^ 'X^prj/jidrcop

TrecppdÔai^

arepriaiv fJbrjTe d(f)iX[a tt/do? <îX<ov

dTToôXrjv fJLrjT dTraiBla 'jrpb^ refcvcov Odvarov,dXXa Tft) XoyLa/jL(p 7rpo<; irdvTa. Kal ravra fiev,

CO? ev TO) irapovTi, irXeiova rcov iKavcov.

VIII. 'Evrel Be jiaKpov nva Kal Bvcrx^prj iroXe-

fjLOv ol ev daTeiirepl t>;? 'SaXapLvicov vtjctov Meya-pevai rrroXe/xovvTef; iêKa/Mov, Kal vofiov eOevro

firjTe ypdyjrai. nva /jl)']telirelv avOu^ co? ^PV '^V^

TToXiv dvTLTToielo-Oai T7]'; "ZaXa/jLLVo^;, 7) davdrcp

^rip,Lov(T9ai, âpecoî cf)epav rrjv dBoîav 6 ôXtov,

Kal Twv vecov opcov ttoWou? Beo/jLevov<i dp^V^ ^ttI

TOV TToXe/iov, avTov^ Be/jlt) 6appovvraa avv6el<^ Kal fieXeTt]aa<; axrre Xeyeiv diro

(TTOfiaTO^y eê7r7]B7]aev ek rrjv dyopdv d<j)v(o

TTtXlBiov irepLdefievoi;, oxXov Be ttoXXov crvvBpa-1

Trecppdxdai Bekker and Cobet, after Bryan: veiravtrdai

{be deliveredfrom).

420

SOLON, VII. 3-VI11. 2

at the death even of dogs and horses, have been

plunged into shameful and intolerable grief. Butothers have borne the loss of noble sons without

terrible sorrow or unworthy conduct, and have con-

formed the rest of their lives to the dictates of

reason. For it is weakness, not kindness, that brings |

men into endless pains and terrors when they are

not trained by reason to endure the assaults of'

fortune. Such men do not even enjoy what they

long for when they get it, but are filled with con-

tinual pangs, tremors, and struggles by the fear of

future loss. However, we must be fortified not bypoverty against deprivation of worldly goods, nor byfriendlessness against loss of friends, nor by child-

lessness against death of children, but by reason

against all adversities. This, under present circum-

stances, is more than enough on this head.

VIII. Once when the Athenians were tired out

^\^th a war which they were waging against the

Megarians for the island of Salamis, they made a law

that no one in future, on pain of death, should move,in writing or orally, that the city take up its

contention for Salamis. Solon could not endure the

disgrace of this, and when he saw that many of the

young men wanted steps taken to bring on the war,but did not dare to take those steps themselves on

account of the law, he pretended to be out of his

head, and a report was given out to the city by his

family that he showed signs of madness. He then

secretly composed some elegiac verses, and after

rehearsing them so that he could say them by rote,

he sallied out into the market-place of a sudden,with a cap upon his head. After a large ^wd)had

421

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

jjLovTOî avaâ^ iiri rov rov KrjpvKO<; Xldov iv tpBfj

^ve^rfkOe rrjv iXeyeiav, rj<iiariv apx^'

Avt6<; fcrjpv^ rjXOov a(f> l/jLeprrjî âXapbivo^,

Koajiov iiricov coStfv avr ayoprj<: 6epLevo<;.

3 TOVTO TO 7roi7)/jLa âkapXl\(ov tov

'ôXoovoî apâfjuevcov eTracveiv, fidXcara Se rov

HeiacaTpdrov toi<; TroXtrat? iy/ceXevo/Mevov koI

irapopfiMVTO^ ireicrdrjvat tq) XeyovTi, XvcravTC^

TOP vojJLOv avOi<; ^tttovto tov iroXifiov, irpoaTrf-

adfievot tov ôXcova.

4 Ta /jL€V ovv SrjjuLcoBrf Ta>p Xeyo/juivcov toluvt

iaTiVy OTt irXevaa^; eVl Ka)Xfa8a /xera tov

UeiaiaTpdTOV, koX fcaTaXaôav avToOi 7rdaa<i

Ta9 yvvaiKa^ Trj A'^/j,r}Tpi Tr)v iraTpiov Ovaiav

eTTLTeXovcra^y eTrefiyjrev dvSpa ttlcttov eh XaXa/uvairpoaTTotovfxevov avTOfioXov elvai, KeXevovTa tov<;

Meya/êt?, el ôvXovTac T(op^

KOrjvaiwv ra? irpd)-

Ta<; Xapetv yvvalKa^t iirl K.(oXidBa /xer' avTov5 irXelv TTjp Ta')(laT'qv. co9 Be 7reLa6evTe<; ol Meya-

p6t9 dvBpa<; iîirepL^frav iv rcG irXoiw ical KaTelBev

6 SoXcov TO ttXolov eXavvofxevov diro t^9 vtjaov,

Ta9 fiev yvvaL/ca<i eKiroBcbv direXOelv eKeXevae,

Tcov Be vecoTepcov tou? fjLrjBeTro) yeveiwvTa^ ivBv-

fiacri Kol p^LTpaiî Koi viroBrjp.aai toI^ eKelvcov

(TK6vaaap.evov<; koi XaôvTa^ ey')(eLpiBia KpvTTTO,

iraiêiv koi ')(ôp€veiv irpoaeTaê 7rpo<; Trj daXdaarj,

p.expi'^ a>v (iTTo/Soiaiv ol 7roX€f.aoi Kal yevrjTai to

6 ttXolov viro-)(eipLov* ovtq) Btj tovtcov 7rpaTTop>epa)v,

422

SOLON, VIII. 2-6

collected there, he got upon the herald's stone andrecited the poem which begins :

—" Behold in me a herald come from lovely Salamis,With a son<T in ordered verse instead of a

harangue."^

This poem is entitled "Salamis," and contains a

hundred very graceful verses. When Solon had

sung it, his friends began to praise him, andPeisistratus in particular urged and incited the

citizens to obey his words. They therefore

repealed the law and renewed the war, puttingSolon in command of it.

The popular account of his campaign is as follows.

Having sailed to Cape Colias with Peisistratus, hefound all the women of the city there, performingthe customary sacrifice to Demeter, He therefore

sent a trusty man to Salamis, who pretended to be

a deserter, and bade the Megarians, if they wishedto capture the principal women of Athens, to sail

to Colias with him as fast as they could. The

Megarians were persuaded by him, and sent off somemen in his ship. But when Solon saw the vessel

sailing back from the island, he ordered the womento withdraw, and directed those of the youngermen who were still beardless, arraying themselves

in the garments, head-bands, and sandals whichthe women had worn, and carrying concealed

daggers, to sport and dance on the sea shore until

the enemy had disembarked and the vessel was in

their power. This being done as he directed, the

^Only six more verses are preserved (Fragments 1-3,

Bergk). They contain reproaches of the Athenians for

abandoning Salamis, and an exhortation to go and fight for it.

423

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

viragoevTe<; ol yieyapeh rfj oyjrei real irpoaî-

fxevoi 7rpo9 aWri\ov<i} &<tt€ /JLrjSiva Siacjivyelv,

aWa iravra^; aiTo\ka6ai, koI rrjv vrjaov iirnrXev-

aavra^; €vOv<; e')(êLv tov<; Â.67]vaiov<^.

IX. "AXKoi Be âatv ov tovtov tov rpoTvov

yeveaOai rrjv KardXrjylnv, dWa nrpcoTOv fiep avT^TOV 6V A6X(jE)Ot9 Oeov

'^(^prjo-ao-

*Ap')(r]yov<; ^wpa? OvaiaL^; rip(DaOLfievoc BepKovTai e? rjiXiOv hvvovra'

TOV he ZoXcdva SiaTrXevaavra vvkto^ et9 ttjv

vrjo-ov evTefielv a^dyia TiepL(j>riiM(p koI Ku^j^pe?Tot9 rip(0(Tiv. ecTa Trapd tmv

^

A67]vaLcov iOeXovTa^

Xa/Selv 7revTaK0(TL0V<;, hoyfiaTO^ yevopikvov tov-

tov;, av KaTaGyfidi ttjv vrjo-ov, Kvpuov; elvai tov

TToXiTevpLaTO^. dva'xOevTa he crv)(val<; dXtdaiv

ap.a TpiaKOVTOpov avp,7rapa7rXeovarj<; v4>oppbi-aaaOai Tjj %aXapuvL KaTa XV^V^ Tiva 7rpo<; Tr/v

Rvôiav^ diro^XeTTOvaav. irvOop.evov^ he tol'9 iv

"âXapZvL Meyapel*; etc tcvo<; (j>rjp,7](;ovBev jBejBaLOVy

avTov<; puev ek to, oirXa 6opvôvpLevov<i âhiêiv,vavv 8' diToaTeTXai KUTaaKe^lro/xevijv tcov ttoXc'

picov T]^ eYû? iXdovarjf; KpaTrjaai tov XoXwvaKol KaOelpâi tov<; M.eyap€L<;. epL^L^daaL he tmv

*Adr)vaiO)V Tov<; KpaTLaTOv; KeXevaavTa irXelv iirl

TTJV ttoXlv, ft)9 av ivheyvâL pdXtcrTa KpvirTOVTa'i

âXXiiXovs Sintenis and Bekker assume here a lacuna in

the text, where such details were given as are found in

Polyaenus, Strattgemata, i, 20.^

Y,tj&oiav Sintenis suggests Nl<raiav (cf. xii. 3).

424

SOLON, VIII. 6-ix. 3

Megarians were lured on by what they saw, beachedtheir vessel, and leapt out to attack women, as theysupposed, vying with one another in speed. Theresult was that not a man of them escaped, but

all were slain, and the Athenians at once set sail andtook possession of the island.

IX. Others, however, say that the island was not

taken in this way, but that Solon first received this

oracle from the god at Delphi :—

" The tutelary heroes of the land where once theylived, with sacred rites

Propitiate, whom the Asopian plain now hides in

its bosom ;

There they lie buried with their faces toward the

setting sun."

Thereupon Solon sailed by night to the island andmade sacrifices to the heroes Periphemus and

Cychreus. Then he took five hundred Athenian

volunteers, a decree having been made that these

should be supreme in the government of the island

if they took it, and setting sail with a numberof fishing boats convoyed by a thirty-oared ship,he anchored off the island of Salamis, at a point of

land looking towards Euboea. But the Megariansin the city of Salamis, hearing only an uncertain

report of what had happened, armed themselves

hurriedly and set out for the place, at the same time

dispatching a ship to spy out the enemy. This shipcame near and was captured by Solon, who put her

crew in confinement. Then he manned her with

the best of his Athenians, and ordered them to sail

against the city, keeping themselves as much

425

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eavTOiKi' a/jua Be tov<; d\\ov<;*

A6r)vaiov<; avaXa-

povra Tre^y avjKêpeaOaL roh Meyapevar koX

T^9 P'O^x*]^ ^Tt avvearcoarjfi <j>ddaat tou? diro t^?

4 "Eof/ce Se TO) Xoyo) tovto) koI ra Spodfieva

jxapTvpetv, vav^ yap Tt,<; 'Arrt/c^ irpocriTrXei,

(jicoTifj TO TTpcoTOv, CLTa Kpavyfj Kol aKaXayp/M

7rpo(j^6pop,evwv el<; dvrjp eVoTrXo? iâW6p.€vo<;

fiera fforj<; edei Trpo? dxpov to ^Kipdhiov^ eK 7^9

7rpo(7(j)6pop.€voL<;. irXrja-iov Be rov ÊvvaXiov to

lepov ecTTiv iBpvcrap,ei'Ov XoXcovo^. evifcrjae yapTou? Meyapea<;, Kal oaot p,rj Bi€<^6dpr)(7av iv

TTj p^d'X^T), TTavraî vTToairovBov^ dcjyrJKev.

X. Ov pb7]v dWd Tcov Meyapicov eTTifievovTcov

TToWd KaKa Ka\ Bpci)VT€<; iv tq) 7roXe/i« xal

irda'XôvTe^y irroirjcTavTO AaKeBac/JiovLov<; BtaWa-Arra? Kal BiKacrTd<;. ol p,€v ovv ttoWoI tcS 'ôXcovt

(TvvaywviaaaOai, Xeyovai T7]v 'Ofii^pov Boâvi/iiâXovTa yap avTov ctto? et? veSiv xaTaXoyov€7rl T^9 BifC7]<; dvayvcovar

Ata<i 3' €K âXapZvo<i dyev BvoKaiBeKa vrja<i,

G-TTjae 3' dywv Xv *A6r]vala)v laTavTO ^dXayye^,

2 avTol 8* *A07]vaLoi TavTa pev oiovTai (pXvapiav

elvai, Tov Be ôXcovd âcnv diroBelâL to?9 Bl-

KacTTal^ OTt, îXato^ Kal EvpvcraKTjf;, Al'avTo^

vloi, ÂOrjvrjcn 7roXiT€la<; /x6TaXa/3o^'T€9 irape-^

"XKipaîov after this word Sintenis aud Bekker assume alacuna in the text.

426

SOLON, IX. 3-x. 2

concealed as was feasible. At the same time, withthe rest of his Athenians, he engaged the Megarianson land, and while the fight was still raging,the crew of the ship succeeded in capturing the

city.

Now there seems to be a confirmation of this

story in certain ceremonies afterwards estabhshed.

Namely, an Attic ship would approach the island in

silence at first, then its crew would make an onsetwith shouts and cries, and one man in full armourwould leap out with a shout of triumph and run to

the promontory of Sciradium to inform those whowere attacking by land. Hard by that place is the

temple of Enyalius^ which was erected by Solon.

For he conquered the Megarians, and all who werenot slain in the battle were released on parole.

X. Notwithstanding all this, the Megarians per-sisted in their opposition, and both sides inflicted

and suffered many injuries in the war, so that finally

they made the Lacedaemonians arbiters and judgesof the strife. Accordingly, most writers say that

the fame of Homer favoured the contention of

Solon;for after himself inserting a verse into the

Catalogue of Ships, he read the passage at the trial

thus :—

''

Ajax from Salamis brought twelve ships.And bringing, stationed them near the Athenian

hosts." 2

The Athenians themselves, however, think this anidle tale, and say that Solon proved to the judgesthat Philaeus and Eurysaces, the sons of Ajax,became citizens of Athens, made over their island

^ Ares. ^Iliad, n.55Tt

427

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Zoarav rrjv vrjaov avTov<;, koI Kar^Kiqarav 6 jilv

iv 'BpavpcovL T^9 'Attract}?, o Be ev MeXiTy' koI

Bijfxov eTToovvjjLOif îkaiov tS)v îXalBcjv exovaiv,3 oOev Tjv TietcrlaTpaTO^. en he fidWov iêXeyâi

Tov<; M.eyapea<; ôu\6/jLevov i(T)(ypi(Taa6at Trepl

TMv veKpSyv co? ou^ ov rpoirov i/ceLvoi ddirTOvai

K€K7]Sevp.€Vcov, dX)C ov avToL OaTTTovai Be Me-

<yap€L<; irpo^ eeo tou? vexpov^ (TTpecf)ovT€<;, ÂO^]-

vatot, Be irpo^ eairepav, *}ipia<; Be 6 Meyapev<;

ivLa-rdfievo'^ Xeyet koX VleyapeU irpo^; eairepav

rerpapLpêva ra acopura tmv veKpwv riOevar Kal

pLelôv en tovtov, pbiav e/caa-Tov ÂOrjvaioyv e'xeiv

6y/cr}Vy MeyapicDv Be Kal T/oet? /cal reaaapa^; ev

4 pita KelaOai. tw puevroi XoXcovt fcal I1vOikov<;

riva<; j3o7)6f]aai Xeyovai ')(pr}apov(;, ev 0*9 o êo?

^laoviav ttjv âXaplva irpoaT^yopevae. ravrijv

T7]v BiKTjv iBifcacrav ^rrapTiaTwv Trevre avBpe^,

KpLToXatBa<;y *Ap,op,(j)dp€TO<i, ^T^JTrj^lBa^y Âva^L-

Xa?, KXeopevr)<;,

XI. "HBrj pev ovv Kal diro rovrcov evBoô<i

rjv 6 %6Xcov Kal peya<;. iOavpaadij Be Kal Bte-

ôr]6r] pLoXXov ev rot? "YaXXtjctlv eiTroDV virep rod

lepov Tov ev AeX<f)OL<;, to? XPV ffoyOelv Kal prj

irepiopav Kippacov^; v^piôvTa^ eU to pLavretov,

dXXa TTpoaapbvveiv virep tov Oeov /êXcpol^. ireL-

o-6evTe<; yap vtt eKeivov irpo^ tov iroXepLov Mp/j-Tj-

(Tav ol Âp(f)LKTvov€<;, 0)9 dXXoi re pLaprvpovai Kal

*Api,o-TOTeX7)<; ev Ty twv UvOlovikcov dvaypacfyfj

428

SOLON, X, 2-xi. I

to them, and took up their residence in Attica, oneat Brauron, and the other at M elite ; and they havea township named after Philaeus, namely Philaidae,to which Peisistratus belonged. They say, too, that

Solon, wishing to refute the claims of the Megariansstill further, made the point that the dead on theisland of Salamis were not buried after the Megarian,but after the xA.thenian fashion. For the Megariansbury their dead facing the east, but the Athenians

facing the west. However, Hereas the Megariandenies this, and says that the Megarians also turn

the faces of their dead to the west. And what is

still more important than this, he says that the

Athenians use one tomb for each body, whereas the

Megarians (like the early inhabitants of Salamis)

place three or four bodies in one tomb. However,they say that Solon was further supported by sundryPythian oracles, in which the god spoke of Salamis

as Ionian. This case was decided by five Spartans,

Critolaidas, Amompharetus, Hypsechidas, Anaxilas,and Cleomenes.

XI. These events, then, presently made Solon

famous and powerful. But he was even more admiredand celebrated among the Greeks for what he said in

behalf of the temple at Delphi, namely, that the

Greeks must come to its relief, and not suffer the

people of Cirrha to outrage the oracle, but aid the

Delphians in maintaining the honour of the god.For it was by his persuasion that the Amphictyons

^

undertook the war, as Aristotle, among others,

testifies, in his list of the victors at the Pythian games,

* The twelve peoples who had as common sanctuaries the

temple of Apollo at Delphi and the temple of Demeter at

Anthela, near Thermopylae.

VOL. I. P 429

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

2 'ZokcdVL Tr}v yvcofiTjv 6,varL6ei<^. ov fiivToi arpa-

T7jyb<; iirl tovtov aiTeêiÔr] tov irokefjiov, co?

Xeyeiv ^r]alv''Eipjj,t7r7ro^ "EivdvOrj tov Xafxtov ovre

yap Ald'xjivr]^ 6 prjTCop rovT etprjKev, ev re rot?

AeXcjiwv v7rojiiv7]fjLa(Tiv *A\Kp,aLCDv, ov XoXcov,

*A6i]vaL(Dv aTpaT7jyo<; avayeypaTTTai.

XII. To Se K.v\(op6cov ciyo^ ijBTj [lev ck ttoWou

BcerdpaTTe rrjv iroXiV, ef ov Tov<i o-uvcofJLora^ tov

Kv\o)vo<; l/ceTevovTU^ Tr}v Oeov Meya/cXij^ 6 apxôviirl BIkt) KaTekOelv eireiaev' i^dyjravTaf; Be tov

eSoy? KpoKTjv kKwgttjv kol TavT7]<; i)(ôfJLevov<;, t»5

eyevovTO irepX tcl^ aeixvaî 6ea<^ KaTaâivovreîi

avTOfidTa)<; t?}? Kpo/crjî pay€L<Tr]<;y Spfirjae av\-

Xafjb^dveiv 6 MeyaKXrj^ /cal ol awdpôvre^, a)9

T9}9 deov rrjv l/cecTLav diroXeyofievr)^' koI tou? fiev

6^0) /caTeXevaav, ol Be T0I9 ficofiolf; 7rpo(7(j)vy6vT€^

aTreacfydyrjcrav' jiovoi S' dêidrjaav ol ra? yvval-

2 /ca9 avTCJV lKeTev(7avTe<;. €k tovtov Be /cXijOevre^

evayel<i ifiiaovvTO' /cal tcov K.v\Q)veicov ol Trepi-

yevo/jLCvoi irakiv rjcrav l(T')(ypol,kol cTTaacdôpre^

del BLeTeXovv 7r/309 tol'9 dirb tov M€ya/cX60f9.

ev Be TO) Tore ')(^p6v(p t^9 aTdaeco^; d/cfj,r)v \a-

ôvar}'; jxakiCTTa Koi tov BijfjLOV BiaaTdvTOs, rjBjj

Boâv e')(^(»iv6 ^6\(ov iraprjXOev el^ /leaov d/na

T0i9 dpL(TTOL^ Tcov *A07jvaLcov, Kal Beo/JLevof; koI

BiBdaKOiv eiretae tol'9 evayet<: Xeyop,evov^ BUrjv

430

SOLON, XI. 2 -XII. 2

where he ascribes the measure to Solon. He was

not, however, appointed general for this war, as

Evanthes the Samian says (according to Hermippus),for Aeschines the orator makes no such statement,^and in the records of Delphi it is stated that

Alcmaeon, and not Solon, commanded the Athenians.

XII. Now the Cylonian pollution had for a longtime agitated the city, ever since Megacles the

archon had persuaded Cylon and his fellow-con-

spirators, who had taken sanctuary in the temple of

Athena, to come down and stand their trial.^ Theyfastened a braided thread to the image of the

goddess and kept hold of it, but when they reached

the shrine of the Erinyes on their way down, the

thread broke of its own accord, upon which Megaclesand his fellow-archons rushed to seize them, on the

plea that the goddess refused them the rights of

suppliants. Those who were outside of sacred pre-cincts were stoned to death, and those who took

refuge at the altars were slaughtered there; onlythose were spared who made supplication to the

wives of the archons. Therefore the archons werecalled polluted men and were held in execration.

The survivors of the followers of Cylon also re-

covered strength, and were forever at variance with

the descendants of Megacles. At this particulartime the quarrel was at its height and the peopledivided between the two factions. Solon, therefore,

being now in high repute, interposed between them,

along with the noblest of the Athenians, and by his

entreaties and injunctions persuaded the men whowere held to be polluted to submit to a trial, and to

^ In his speech Against Gtesiphon, § 109.2 About 636B.O. Cf. Herod, v. 71 ; Thuc. L 126.

431

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

VTTocT'Xêlv Kol KpL0rjvac rpLa/coaLcov apccrTLvSijv

3 SiKaôvTcov. ^lvpojvo<i Be rov ^Xv€co<; Karijyo-

povvTO^ iaXcoaav ol avSp€<;, koI /jLereaTrjcrav ol

â)PT€<i' TCOV S* CLTTodaVOVTCOV TOU? V6KpOU<^ CLVO-

pvâvre^ iêppL-âv virep rov^ opov^;. ravrac^

8e Tat9 rayoaât? /cat Meyapiwv avveTndefjievwv

aireâXov re Nlaaiav ol ÂOrjvaLOC koI 'Zakafuvo^

iêireaov avOa. /cal (poôL Tiv€<i ix BeiaiBat-

fiovLa<; oLjia /cal cpdo-fiaTa Karelê rrjv ttoXlv, ol

T6 pbdvTet^ ctyT) kol paacTfjLOVf; Beofxevov^ KaOapjicov

7rpo(j)aivea6aL Blcl tcov lepcov rjôpevov.

4 Ovrod Bt) /ieraTre/x-TTTO? avTol^ rjKev ix Kp7]T7}<;

'ETTi/xez^tS?;? o âiaTLO^, ov ejSBofiov iv rot? (Tocpot^;

KaTapiOjjLOvcnv evioi tmv ov Trpoaie/juevcov rov

UeplavSpov. iBoKei Be rt? elvat. OeocptXy^ koI

<T0(j)b^<Ta-

fievo^ <f}i\(a TToWd Trpoa-VTretpydaaTO Kal irpoco-

5 BoTTolrjaev avrS Trj<; vo/jLoOeata^. Kal yap evara-

Xet9 eTTOiyae ra? lepovpyia^; Kal Trepl rd TrevSr]

irpaoTepovf;, Ov(TLa<} rivdî evOv<; dvafiLâfi 7ryoo9

Ttt KTjBi], Kal TO (7K\7]pov d(j)e\oi)v Kal TO /Sapfia-

ptKOv a> (TVveixoi'TO iTpoTepov at TrXetarat yv-

valKe<;, to Be fieyio-rov, IXaaixol^ riai Kal KaO-

apfiol^ Kal IBpvaecTL Karopyidaaî Kal KaOocrid)-

43a

SOLON, xii. 2-5

abide by the decision of three hundred jurors selected

from the nobihty. Myron of Phlya conducted the

prosecution, and the family of Megacles was found

guilty. Those who were alive were banished, andthe bodies of the dead were dug up and cast forth

beyond the borders of the country. During these

disturbances the Megarians also attacked the Athen-

ians, who lost Nisaea, and were driven out of Salamis

once more. The city was also visited with super-stitious fears and strange appearances, and the seers

declared that their sacrifices indicated pollutions and

defilements which demanded expiation. -s

Under these circumstances they summoned to . ^'^^their aid from Crete Epimenides of Phaestus, w^ho is t/^^

reckoned as the seventh Wise Man by some of those

who refuse Periander a place in the list.^ He was

reputed to be a man beloved of the gods, andendowed with a mystical and heaven-sent wisdom in

religious matters. Therefore the men of his time

said that he was the son of a nymph named Balte,and called him a new Cures.^ On coming to Athenshe made Solon his friend, assisted him in many ways,and paved the way for liis legislation. For he madethe Athenians decorous and careful in their religious

services, and milder in their rites of mourning, byattaching certain sacrifices immediately to their

funeral ceremonies, and by taking away the harsh

and barbaric practices in which their women had

usually indulged up to that time. Most important of

all, by sundry rites of propitiation and purification,and by sacred foundations, he hallowed and conse-

' 8ee note on iii. 5, and cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athena, i.

- The Curetes were Cretan priests of Idaean Zeus, who tooktheir name from the demi-gods to whose care Rhea was said

to have committed the infant Zeus.

433

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

<Ta<^ T^v TToXiv vTTijKOOv Tov BiKaiov Kot fidWovevTreiOi] tt/jo? ofiovotav KareaTrjcje. Xiyerai Se

TTjv Movwx^civ IBoDv Kol KaTa/iaOcbv ttoXvp

'X^povoVy elirelv irpo^ tou9 irapovTa^ 009 tv(J)'\6v

6 i(TTL TOV fiiXXoPTOf; avOpwiTO^' iKcpayetv yap av

A.67}vaiov<i rol^ avrojp oBovaiv, el irporjheaav ocra

TTJV TToXiv avidaeo to 'X^cDpiov o/xolov Be tl koX

SaXrjv eiKCLcraL Xeyovcrr KsXevaat yap avTOv ev

TivL TOTTft) T^9 ISJiiXrjcria^ (fiavXfp /cal TrapopcofjLevo)

TeXevTTjaavTa Oelvai, irpoeiTTcov q)<; ayopd iroTe

TOVTO MiX7)a[(0P ecTTac to 'x^wpLov, 'E7ri/i.ej/t8?;9

fiev oZv fidXicTTa davpbaadel^, Kal XPW^'^^ ^*~

h6vT(DV TToXXd Kal Ttfjias pbeydXa^ tcov 'AOrjvaiwv,

ovBev rj OaXXov aTro t^9 lepd^; ekaia^i alTrjadfievo^

Kal Xapayv dnrjXdev.

XIII. 01 B' ^KOifvaloL T?}9 ^vXtoveiov TrcTrav-

fievrjf; Ta/)a%^9 fcal /jueOeaTcoTcov, warrrep etprjTat,

TMv evaywVy ttjv iraXaidv avOi^ aTdcnv virep T7}9

7roXfcT6ta9 i<JTacria^0Vy oaa<; rj %a)/)a Bia(f)opd<;

elx^Vy eh ToaavTa pLeprj t^9 iroXeco^; BiaaTacTT}^.

^v yap TO fiev tcov AiaKpicov yevo<; Brj/iOKpaTiKco- 85

TaTov, 6Xcyapxi'f<:^TCLT0V Be to tcov HeBiecov Tpi-

TOL B^ oi HdpaXoi, ixecov tlvol Kal fiefxiyfievov

alpovjievoi iroXiTeiaf; TporroVy ifiTToBcbv rjcrav Kal

2 BieKcoXvov T0U9 €Tepov<; KpaTrjcrai. Tore Be Trjf; Ta>v

irevrjTcov 7rpo<; tol'9 itXovctiov^ dvcofxaXia^ Mcnrep

aK/jLrjv XaPovcrr)^ iraPTdTracnv eiTLa<f>aXco<; 7] 7r6Xi<i

BueKeiTOy Kal povco^ av eBoKei KaTaarrjvaL Kal

434

SOLON, XII. 5-X111. 2

crated the city, and brought it to be observant of

justice and more easily inclined to unanimity. It is

said that when he had seen Munychiai and con-

sidered it for some time, he remarked to the by-standers that man was indeed blind to the future ;

for if the Athenians only knew what mischiefs the

place would bring upon their city, they would devour

it with their own teeth. A similar insight into

futurity is ascribed to Thales. They say that he

gave directions for his burial in an obscure and

neglected quarter of the city's territory, predictingthat it would one day be the market-place of Miletus.

Well then, Epimenides was vastly admired by the

Athenians, who offered him much money and largehonours ; but he asked for nothing more than a

branch of the sacred olive-tree, with which hereturned home.

XIII. But the Athenians, now that the Cyloniandisturbance was over and the polluted persons ban-

ished, as described,^ relapsed into their old disputesj

Ji^

about the formjaf-goyernment, the city being divided ^into as many parties as there were diversities in its ^

territory. The Hill-men favoured an extreme

democracy ;the Plain-men an extreme oligarchy ;

the Shore-men formed a third party,^ which pre-ferred an intermediate and mixed form of govern-ment, was opposed to the other two, and preventedeither from gaining the ascendancy. At that time,

too, the disparity between the rich and the poor had

culminated, as it were, and the city was in an alto-

gether perilous condition ; it seemed as if the only^ The acropolis of the Peiraeus, strategically commanding

not only that peninsula, but also Athens itself. It was often

garrisoned by conquerors of Athens. ^Chapter xii. 3.

^ Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athens, xiii. 4.

435

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

iravcraadai rapaTTo/n^VT] TvpavvuBo^ yevofievrj^.

a7ra9 fiev 'yap 6 hrjixo^ rjv viro'x^peco^ tmv ttXov-

aLO)v. rj jap ejeotipjovv eKelvoL^ eKra r&v yi-

vojJLevcov reXovvre^, iKrrjfjLoptoi TrpocajopevofievoLKal 6rJT€<;, rj %/3ea Xa/ji0dvovT€<; iirl rot? crcofiaaiv

dya>yc/jLOL rot? 8aveiôv(7iv rjcrav, ol fiev avTov

BovX€VovT6<;, ol S' iirl rrjv îvrjv TnirpadKOfxevoi.3 TToXXoX 8e Kol Tralha<; ISbov^ rjvajfcdôvro TrmXelv

(ovBeh yap v6fjL0<; CKOoXve) Kal rrjv iroXtv (fyevyeiv

Bia Tr)v 'xaXeiTOT'qra roiv Baveicnojv. ol Be irXel-

(TTOt Kal pcofiaXecoraroi avviaravTO Kal irapeKa-Xovv dXXrjXov^ firj ireptopav, dXX^ iXofievov^ eva

TTpoaraTTjv avhpa tticttov d<f>eXea9aL tov<; virep-

7]fi6pov<; Kal rrjv yrju dvaBdaaaOai Kal oXw?

jieTaarrjaai rrjv TroXcreiav.

XIV. ÊiVravOa Brj rcovÂOrjvaLwv ol (ppovifico-raroi avvopwvTe^ rov XoXcova ixovou fidXiara tS)v

d/jLapTTjfidrcov e/cro? ovra, Kal jjLijre rot? irXovaioi^

KOLVcovovvra r?}? dBiKLa<; /.ojre rai? rcov irevrjTWv

dvdyKai^ ivexoP'^vovy iSeovro T0i<i kolvoI^ irpoaeX-delv Kal KaraTravo-ai ra<; Bia(f)opd<;. KalroL Oaz^ta?

o Ae(T0co<; avrov laropel tov %6Xwva, ')(^prj<rdp,evov

dirdrrj 7rpo<; d/jL(f)OT6pov<; irrl a-corrjpla rrj<; 7r6X€a)<;,

vTTOcrxeo-Oat Kpv<j>a rol<; fiev diropoiî Tr)v vefXTjcnv,

Tol^ Be %/9?;/xaTi/tot9 fie/Saicoaiv tmv (jvfjbôXaiwv.2 dXJC avTO<i 6 XoXcov okvwv ^7)(tl to Trpcorov d^jra-cOac T?79 TToXtreta?, Kal BeBoLKcb<; rSiv fiev rrjv

îXoxpVf^^'^^^^f '^^v ^^ '^h^ virepi^cfjaviav. ypeOr)Be dp')(^cov /jLerd îXop-^poTOV o/jlov Kal BLaXXaKTrj^;Kal vopio6eTr}<i, Beâjmivcov irpodu/jLco^ avrov a)9 êv

436

SOLON, XIII. 2~xiv. 2

way TO settle its disorders and stop its turmoils' was

to establish a tyranny. All the common people were

in debt to the rich. For they either tilled their lands

for them, paying them a sixth of the increase (whence

they were called Hectemorioi and Thetes), or else

they pledged their persons for debts and could be

seized by their creditors, some becoming slaves at

home, and others being sold into foreign countries.

Many, too, were forced to sell their own children (foi*

there was no law against it), or go into exile, because

of the cruelty ofthe money-lenders. But the most andsturdiest of them began to band together and exhort

one another not to submit to their wrongs, but to

choose a trusty man as their leader, set free the

condemned debtors, divide the land anew, and makean entire change in the form of government.

XIV. At this point, the wisest of the Athenians

cast their eyes upon Solon. They saw that he wasthe one man least implicated in the errors of the

time ; that he was neither associated with the rich

in their injustice, nor involved in the necessities of

the poor. They therefore besought him to comeforward publicly and put an end to the prevailingdissensions. And yet Phanias the Lesbian writes

that Solon of his own accord played a trick upon both

parties in order to save the city, and secretly

promised to the poor the distribution of land which

they desired, and to the rich, validation of their

securities. But Solon himself says that he entered

public life reluctantly, and fearing one party's greedand the other party's arrogance.^ However, he waschosen archon '^ to succeed Philonibrotus, and mademediator and legislator for the crisis, the rich

» Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athens^ y, 3.* 594 B.C.

437

^1

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eviropov toSv TrXovaiwv, 009 Be ')(prj(TTov tmv irevrj-

r(ov. Xiyerai Be koX ^(ovrj Tt9 avrov irepLêpofiivr]

irporepov, elirovTO'i 0)9 to laov TTokejiov ov nroiei,

KOl T0t9 KTy]p,aTlK0l'^ apkcKUV KoX T0fc9 CLKTYJlXOdLi

ro3V fjuev aîa koX apery, tmv Be fierpq) Kal dptO/jLO)

3 TO to-oi^ eêiv TrpoaBofccovrcov 06ev eV* eXirLBos

/jbeyciXrjf; eKarepcov yevo/juevcov ol irpolaTafievoL

TTpocre/ceLVTo t& %6\(ovi rvpavviBa irpoêvovvre^Kal avaireidovTe^ evToX/JLorepov a-âadaL ttj^

iroXecoff iy/cparr) yevofievov. iroWol Be Kal rS)v

Blcl fiecrov ttoXltcop, ttjv vtto \6yov Kal voimov

fjberaôXrjv 6p6jvTe<; ipycoBrj Kal 'xoXe'rrrjv ovaav,

ovK €(j)evyov eva rov BiKatorarov Kal ^povLfKara-4 Toz^ €7ri<7T7]crai Tot9 TTpdyfiaaiv. evioi Be <j)aai

Kal jjLavreiav yeveaOai. to5 %oX(ovi TivOol roiav-

TIJV

*H(TO fiecTTjv Kara vrja KVêpvqrrjpiov epyovevOvvcdv TToXKoL rot

^

Adrjvaiayv eiTLKOVpoi,

/jLoXio-ra Be ol avvrjOeL^ eKaKiôv el Bid rovvo/na

Bvcrwirelrai ttjv iJiovap)(iav, wairep ovk dpsrfj tov

\a^6vT0<; eu6v<; av jSaaiXelav yevop.evr)v, kol

yeyevT)fievrfv irporepov fiev Fivôevac Tvvvcov-

Bav, vvv Be ^tTv\7]vavot<; HiTTaKOV yprjfjievoL';

Tvpavvov.6 TouTftji' ovBev eêKpovae rov "ôXcova t?}9 avrov

TTpoaLpeceo)^, dXXd 7rpb<; /lev rov<; cplXov^; elirev,

(M9 Xeyerai, KaXov pev elvai rrjv rvpavviBa 'X^f^piovt

OVK ex'îv Be diropaaLV, 7rpo<i Be ôjkov ev T0t9

rroirjpaai, ypd(j)a}V'

438

SOLON, XIV. 2-5

accepting him re<adily because he was well-to-do,

and the poor because lie was honest. It is also said

that a certain utterance of his which was current

before his election, to the effect that equality bred

no war, pleased both the men of substance and

those who had none ;the former expecting to have

equality based on worth and excellence, the latter

on measure and count. Therefore both parties werein high hopes, and their chief men persistentlyrecommended a tyranny to Solon, and tried to

persuade him to seize the city all the more

confidently now that he had it completely in his

power. Many citizens, too, who belonged to neither

party, seeing that it would be a laborious and difficult

matter to effect a change by means of argument and

law, were not reluctant to have one man, the justestand wisest of all, put at the head of the state.

Furthermore, some say that Solon got an oracle at

Pytho which ran as follows :—

" Take thy seat amidships, the pilot's task is thine ;

Perform it ; many in Athens are thine allies."

And above all, his familiar friends chid him for

being averse to absolute power because of the nameof tyranny, as if the virtues of him who seized it

would not at once make it a lawful sovereignty.Euboea (they argued) had formerly found this true

of Tynnondas, and so had the Mitylenaeans, nowthat they had chosen Pittacus to be their tyrant.None of these things shook Solon from his

resolution. To his friends he said, as we are told,

that a tyranny was a lovely place, but there wasno way down from it. And in his poems he writes

to Phocus:—439

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Et Be 7979 (cf)r](7[v) iêia-dfifjv

7raTpiSo<;, TVpavviBo<; Be real ^t7;<? afxeLXixov

ov /caOrjyIrdfirjv fxidva^ Koi KaTaia')({}va<^ kXco^,

ovBev alBevfiar irXeov yap wê viicriaeLv BoKeco

iravTaî dv6pd^'rrov<i,

oOev evBrfkov on koX irpo rr)^ vofJuoOecria^; fjueyd-

6 Xrjv Boâv el')(ev,a Be (pvyovro'; avrov rrjv rupav-

viBa iToKXol KarayeXcovTe^ ekeyov, yeypaêv

OvK e(j)v ^6Xo)v /3a0v<ppcov ovBe fiovXrjeL^ dvrjp'

eaOXa yap Oeov BiBovro^; avrb^; ov/c iBeâro,

irepLâXoDv 8' dypav dyaadel^ ovk iTricnraa-ev

fjbiya

BIktvov, Ovjjlov 6* dfjiaprfj /cal (j>p€va)v diro-

aiâXei^,

TjOeXnv^ ydp Kev KpaTrjcraî, irXovrov d(f)6ovov

Xa^cbv

Ka\ Tvpavvevaa<; *A6r]v6)v fiovvov rjfiepav p.iav,

dcTKo^^

varepov BeBdpOat KdiTLreTpl(j)6aL yevo'^.

XY. Tavra rov<; TroXXovî xal (pavXovf; irepl

avTov TreTTOLTjKe Xeyovra'^. ov fjLrjv dircocTdfievo^

ye T7JV TVpawLBa rov Trpaorarov i^pô'aro rpoiTov

TOt? 7rpdy^(TiVy ovBe fjuaXaKOi^ ovS* vireiKtov T0t9

Bvvafi€V0i<; ovBe tt/oo? rjBovrjv rcov eXojj,evcov eOero

ÎjdeXoy, aa-Khs Bergk, with the better MSS. : fldeKfy, ain6$

(he (Solon) wovld havt been loiUing; hinuelf).

440

SOLON, XIV. 5-xv. I

" And if/' he says," I spared my land,

My native land, and unto tyranny and violence

implacableDid not set hand, polluting and disgracing my fair

fame,I'm not ashamed ; in this way rather shall my name

be set above

That of all other men." ^

From this it is clear that even before his legislation

he was in high repute. And as for the ridicule

which many heaped upon him for refusing the

tyranny, he has written as follows ;—

" Solon was a shallow thinker and a man of counsel

void;

When the gods would give him blessings, of his ownwill he refused.

When his net was full of fish, amazed, he wouldnot pull it in.

All for lack of spirit, and because he was bereft of

sense.

I had certainly been willing, for the power, andboundless wealth.

And to be tyrant over Athens no more than a

single day.Then to have a pouch flayed from me, and my

lineage blotted out." ^'

XV. Thus he represents the multitude and menof low degree as speaking of him. However, thoughhe rejected the tyranny, he did not administer affairs

in the mildest possible manner, nor in the enactmentof his laws did he show a feeble spirit, nor makeconcessions to the powerful, nor consult the pleasure

1Fragment 32 (Bergk).

^Fragment 33 (Bergk).

441

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T0U9 v6fjLov<;' aX)C y fiev apiarov r)v, ovfc i'rrrj'ya'yev

iarpeiav ovSe KaivoTOfiiav, (po/STjOelf; firi (Tvyîaf;TTavTairaGL koL rapdâ<; rrjv ttoKlv aaOevearepo'^

jevr]Tai rov Karaa-rrjcrai ttoXlv koI avvapfio-2 aaadai 7rpb<i to apicrrov' a Be Kal Xeywv ijXrrLê

TreiOofiivot^; Kal Trpocrdycov dvdyK7]v VTrofievovai

'X^prjaaadaiy Tavr eTTparrev, w? îjaLV avrof;,

*Op,ov ^LTjv T€ Kal Blktjv Gwapiioda^.^

o9ev v(TT€pov epwrrjOel^ el rou? dpi(TTOV<; ÂOrj-

vaioifi v6fjL0V<; eypayjrev,"*D.v dv,^' ^<prjy

"TrpoaeSe-

âvTO TOv<; dpiarov^r'Â S' ovv ol ve(t)T€poi Tou? ÂOrjvaLovi; Xeyovai,

Td<; Tcov TTpayfidrayv Bva)(€p€La<^ 6v6/jLaai yprjarol^Kal (f)iXavOpd)TTOL<; eTnKaXvTTTovTa^ dareucof; viro-

3 KopiiêaOaL, ra^ fiev iropva^ eraipa^, rov^ he <ô-

/)ou9 avvrdêL^;, (f)vXaKd<^ 8e ra? (j)povpd<; rwv

TToXecov, OLKTjfjLa Se to Bea/icoryjpiov KaXovvra^;,

TTpdoTou SoXcovof; rjVy &)? eoiKe, a6(f)t,(Tfia rrjv tcov

Xpeoiv dTTOKOTTTjv aeLad')^6eiav ovoixdcravTo^. tovto

yap eiTOLrjaaTO irpSirov TroXlTevfia, ypd-^ât; to,

p.ev vTrdpôvTa twi^ XP^^^ dveiarOat, tt/oo? 8e to

4 XoLTTOv eirl ToliaOevTa<; dya-

irrjdai tov<; 7rev7)Ta<;, Kal aeiadÔeiav ovojidaaLTO ^tXavOpcoTTevfia tovto Kal ttjv dp,a tovtw

yevofievrjv tcov ts fieTpcov eirav^rjaiv Kal tov vopi-

<TixaTO<^ TL/jb7]v. eKaTov yap eTroiijcre hpaxP'^v ttjv

^Fragment 36, verse 14 (Bergk) ; verse 16 of the longer

fragment now found in Aristotle's Coiut. of Athens^ chapterxii. 4, where we have Kpdrei | v6nov, fiiiiv re ktK,

442

SOLON, XV. 1-4

of his electors. Nay, where a condition was as goodas it could well be, he applied no remedy, and intro-

duced no innovation, fearing lest, after utterly con-

fusing and confounding the city, he should be too

weak to establish it again and recompose it for the

best. But those things wherein he hoped to find

them open to persuasion or submissive to compulsion,these he did,

"Combining both force and justice together,"

as he says himself. Therefore when he was after-

wards asked if he had enacted the best laws for

the Athenians, he replied, "The best they would

receive."

Now later writers observe that the ancient

Athenians used to cover up the ugliness of thingswith auspicious and kindly terms, giving them

polite and endearing names. Thus they called

harlots "companions," taxes "

contributions," the

garrison of a city its "guard," and the prison a" chamber." But Solon was the first, it would seem,to use this device, when he called his cancelling of

debts a " disburdenment." For the first of his

public measures was an enactment that existingdebts should be remitted, and that in future no one

should lend money on the person of a borrower.

Some writers, however, and Androtion is one of them,affirm that the poor were relieved not by a can-

celling of debts, but by a reduction of the interest

upon them, and showed their satisfaction by givingthe name of " disburdenment

"to this act of humanity,

and to the augmentation of measures and the pur-

chasing power of money which accompanied it.^ For

* See Aristotle, Const, of AthenSy x. 1, with Sandys' note.

443

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fivav rrporepov k^hop,r}KovTa koI rpLwv ovaav,

axTT aptOfiS) p,€V laov, hvvdfiei S' eXarrov airo-

SiBovTcov, Q)(j)€X€LaOai pev tou? iicTivovra<i peyaXa,5 p^TjSev Be pkaiTreaOaL tou9 KopuLôpêvov^. oi he

TTkeiGTOL TrdvTcov opLov âai T(av (TvpbôXaiwv

dvaipe(TLV yevkaOai rrjv creiaaxOeiav, xal rovTOi<;

avvaBec pLoXXov ra irotijpxLTa. Xepvvverai 'yap

^6X(ov iv TOVToa OTL T^9 T€ TTpovTTOKecpLevrjt; yrj(;

"Oyoou? dveiXe TroXXax^ 7r€7r7]y6Ta<i'

TTpocrdev Be BovXevovaa, vvv eXevdepw

Kol T(ov dycoyipLcov Trpb^ dpyvpcov yeyovoTcov ttoXi-

Tcov Tov<; pLev dv^yayev diro fezîy?,

yXaiaaav ovKer ÂrriKrjv

ievTa<i, tw? av iroXXaxn TrXavapevowTot'9 B^ ivOdB* avTov BovXltjv deiKea

€XovTa<;

iXev6epov<; (fjrja-l iroiTJaai.

6 Updypua 8' auro) avpuireaelv Xeyerai Trdvrcov

dviaporarov diro t^9 irpdêo)^ eKeiV7]<;. q}<; yapwpprjaev dvievai rd %/3ea Kal Xoyov^ dppoTTovra'i

e^rjTei Kal irpeTrovcrav dp)(rjv, e/coivcoaaro Ttdv

(j)lX(op oh pdXidTa TTiGTevwv Kal '^pcopepo'i

ervyxcive, Tot9 rrepl Kovoova Kal KXetvtav Kal

'Ittttovikov, on yrjv puev ov pueXXet Kivelv, %/3eft)i/

Be TTOLelv d7roK07rd<; eyvcoKcv. ol Be TrpoXafiovTe^; 87

fvOv<; Kal (pOdaavTeî eBaveiaavTO (jV)(vov dpyvpiov

444

SOLON XV. 4

le made the mina to consist of a hundred drachmas,which before had contained only seventy-three, so

that by paying the same amount of money, but

money of a lesser value, those who had debts to dis-

charge were greatly benefited, and those who acceptedsuch payments were no losers. But most writers

agree that the " disburdenment"

was a removal of

all debt, and with such the poems of Solon are morein accord. For in these he proudly boasts that fromthe mortgaged lands

" He took away the record-stones that everywherewere planted ;

Before, Earth was in bondage, now she is free.**^

And of the citizens whose persons had been seized

for debt, some he brought back from foreign lands,

"uttering no longer Attic speech.So long and far their wretched wanderings ;

And some who here at home in shameful servitude

Were held "2

he says he set free.

This undertaking is said to have involved him in

the most vexatious experience of his life. For whenhe had set out to abolish debts, and was trying to

find fitting arguments and a suitable occasion for the

step, he told some of his most trusted and intimate

friends, namely, Conon, Cleinias, and Hipponicus,that he was not going to meddle with the land, buthad determined to cancel debts. They immediatelytook advantage of this confidence and anticipated

^Fragment 36, verses 4 f. (Bergk), with adaptation from

the first person ;verses 6 f. in Aristotle's citation.

2Fragment 36, verses 9-12 (Bergk) ; verses 11-14 in

Aristotle.

445

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irapa tmv ifkovcriwv fcal fieyaXaf; (TVvecovrjaavTo

7 x^pa<;. elra tov Boy/JLuro^ efeiê^êi^ro? ra fiev

KTij/bbara KapTrovfievoL, ra Be 'X^prjfJLaTa roi? Bavel-

aaaiv ovk airoBLBovre^, eh alrlav tov XoXcova

fieyd\r)v koI BLa/BoXrjv, Mcnrep ov avvaBiKovp^vov,aXXa crvvaBiKovvTa, KareaTrjaav, aXka tovto

fiev ev0v<; iXvOr) to eyKXrjfjua Toh irevTe raXavTOi^;'

Toaavra yap evpeOrj Bavei^cov, /cat ravra tt/jwto?

a^rJKe Kara tov v6/iov, evLoi Be irevTeKa'iBeKa

Xeyovaiv, a)v Koi IloXi)^7jXo<; 6 'F6Bi6<i iaTi.

Tou? jjuevTOi (f)LXov<; avTov ')(pecoK07rLBa<; KaXovvTe<;

BieTeXecrav.

XVI. "Hpeae 5* ovBeTepOKi, aXX* eXvirrâe kol

TOV? TrXovalov^ aveXcbv to, o-vfiffoXaca, kuI /jloXXov

eTL Tov<; 7rev7jTa<;y oti 77)9 avaBao-fiov ovk eiroirjaev

eXiriaaaLV avT0L<;, ovBe TravTairacnv, uxrirep 6

AvKovpyo<;, 6p.aXoij<; tol9 jBioi^ koi laovfj kutc-

aTTjcrev. aXX' i/cecvo^; fiev evBeKaTO^ covdcf)*

*UpafcXeov(; kcu ffeffaacXevKcofi cttj ttoXXo, t^<?

AaKeBaifiovo<;, d^Lco/jLa fieya koI (plXov? koi

BvvajJLLV ol<; eyvco KaXSx; irepl Trj<; 7roXtT€La<;

vTTTjpeTovaav eZ%e, xal îa fiaXXov r) TreiOoi

')(^p7](Tdp.evo<iycoaTe koI tov 6<pOaX/jLov eKKOTrrjvai,,

/caT€cpyd<TaTo to fieyiaTOv el<; acorr^piav TroXecoî

Kol ofiovoiav, firjBeva TrevrjTa /nrjBe irXovcnov elvai

2 TWV TTOXiTCOV XoXcOV Be TOVTOV fiev OVfC i(f>LKeTO

Ty iroXiTeia STj/xoTiKOf; ojv /cat p,eao<;, eiBeeaTepovBe T^9 V7rapxova7](; Bwdfjied)^ ovBev eirpaêv,

446

SOLON, XV. 6-xvi. 2

Solon's decree by borrowing large sums from the

wealthy and buying up great estates. Then, whenthe decree was published, they enjoyed the use of

their properties, but refused to pay the moneys duetheir creditors. This brought Solon into great con-

demnation and odium, as if he had not been imposedupon with the rest, but were a party to the im-

position.^ However, this charge was at once dis-

sipated by his well-known sacrifice of five talents.

For it was found that he had lent so much, and hewas the first to remit this debt in accordance with

his law. Some say that the sum was fifteen talents,

and among them is Polyzelus the Rhodian. But his

friends were ever after called " chreocopidae," or deht-

cutters. rr)XVI. He pleased neither party, however

; the (j^rich were vexed because he took away their secur-

ities for debt, and the poor still more, because hedid not re-distribute the land, as they had expected,nor make all men equal and alike in their way of

living, as Lycurgus did. But Lycurgus was eleventh

in descent from Heracles, and had been king in

Lacedaemon for many years. He therefore had

great authority, many friends, and power to supporthis reforms in the commonwealth. He also

employed force rather than persuasion, insomuchthat he actually lost his eye thereby,^ and most

effectually guaranteed the safety and unanimity ot

the city by making all its citizens neither poor nor

rich. Solon, on the contrary, could not secure this

feature in his commonwealth, since he was a man of

the people and of modest station; yet he in no wise

^ Cf. Aristotle, Const, of AthenSy vi.* Cf. LycurguSy xi.

447

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

opfjLcojxevoî CK fiovov Tov ôvXeadat /cal Tria-reveiv

avr(p TOv<; TToXtVa?. on B' ovv irpoaeKpovcre rot?

TrXetcrroi? erepa 7rpoaSo/c)]aaaLv, avTO<; etprjKe

mrepl avTwv, c»9

"Kavpa fjuev tot i^pdaavTO, vvv Be/ulol 'ôXov-

fievoc

Xoôv 6(f)6aX/jiOL(; opoiai, iravTe^; Mare hrjlov,

KaiTOL <pr]alv ro?, ec Ti9 dXXo<; eaê ttjv avTrjv

Ovfc av KaTeax^ Brjpov, ovS' eTravaaTO,

irplv dvTapdâ<;, irlap eêTXev ydXa.^

Ta%u fjbivTOL TOV crvfjL(f)epovTo<; alaOopbevoi Kai

Ta9 IBia^ avTMV/jiepiyjretfi d(êvTe 'Jrdvra h'

o/jiaXcjfi e7riTpe'\lravTe<;, dp)(^d<;, eKKX'qaia^, BiKa-

aTypca, ôv\d<;, KaX TijjLT]fia tovtcov e/cdarTov

Kol dpidpov Kol Kaipov opLcrai, Xvovtu koI<j>v-

XaTTOVTa T(ov VTTap')(pVTcov Kol fcaOearcoToyv o tl

Boko 17],

XVII. TLpcjTOv fiev ovv tov<; ApdK0VT0<; vo/JLOvf;

dvelXe 7rX7]v tcov (fiovi/ccov d7ravTa<;, Bid t^v

%a.\€7roT?;Ta kclI to pLe'yeOa Tciiv iiriTLpLcov, pbia

jdp oXiyov Belv diraaLv &pLaT0 T0t9 dpuapTdvovat.

^ So the verses are now more correctly found in Aristotle

{Const, of Athens, xii. 5, Sandys).

448

SOLON, XVI. 2-xvTi. r

acted short of his real power, relying as he did onlyon the wishes of the citizens and their confidence in

him. Nevertheless he gave offence to the greater

part of them, who expected different results, as hehimself says of them in the lines :

—Then they had extravagant thoughts of me, but

now, incensed,All look askance at me, as if I were their foe." ^

And yet had any other man, he says, acquired thesame power," He had not held the people down, nor made an

endUntil he had confounded all, and skimmed the

cream."

Soon, however, they perceived the advantages of

his measure, ceased from their private fault-finding,and offered a public sacrifice, which they called

Seisactheia, or Disbiirdenment. They also appoint-ed Solon to reform the constitution and make newlaws, laying no restrictions whatever upon him, but

putting everything into his hands, magistracies,

assemblies, courts-of-law, and councils. He was to

fix the property qualification for each of these, their

numbers, and their times of meeting, abrogating and

maintaining existing institutions at his pleasure.XVn. In the first place, then, he repealed the

laws of Draco, all except those concerning homicide,^because they were too severe and their penalties too

heavy. For one penalty was assigned to almost all

transgi'essions, namely death, so that even those

^ Fragment 34 (Bergk) ; now verses 4 f, of a fragment of

nine verses cited by Aristotle [Const, of Athena^ xii. 3)." Cf. Aristotle, op. cit. vii. 1.

449

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

^rj/jLia 6dvaro<^, ware Kol rot"? apyia^ akovra'i

aiToOviqcFKeiVt Kol Tou? \dâva K\e-\\ravTa<i rj

OTTcopav ojioicd'^ KokdêaOai rot? lepoavXoiî koI

2 dvSpocpovoLf;. Boo Arj/judSTj^; vcrrepov evBoKi/jLT}-

aev elTTODV ore Bi alfiarof;, ov Blo, fieKavo^,

T0U9 v6fiov<; 6 ApaKCov eypayfrev. avTo<; S* i/cecvo^,

CO? âCTLVy €p(0T(O/jL€V0<; Blo, tL T0t9 TrXeiCTTOH;

dBiKrj/jLaai ^rj/jbiav eraê Odvarov, dTre/cpLvaro ra

fi6v fitKpa Tavrrjf; dîa vo/jLLêtv, TOt? Be fxeyaXoi^

ovK eêiv fietôpa.

XVIII. Aevrepov Bk SoXcov ra^ fiev ap%^9dirdaa^, wairep rjaav, roL<; eviropoi^ dirokLTrelv

povkofievo^y Tr)v S* aXXrjv filial TrokiTelav, ri<;6

BrffMOî ov ixerelêv, eXaySe ra rcfi^/jbara tcov ttoXc-

TMv, KoX Tovî fiev iv ^7}poL<; ojJLov KoX vypoZf;

fieTpa irevraKOdia TTOiovvTa^; irpwrov^ eraê koX

TrevraKoa-iofieBtfivov'; irpoar^yopevae' Bevrepovî Be 88

Tou? XirTTOv Tpe(j)€iv Bwa/Jbivovf; rj jxerpa iroielv

2 Tpta/coaia' kol tovtov<; linrdBa reXovvra^; eKd-

Xovv êvylraL 3' ol rod rpirov TipLr}fiaT0<; wvo-

jxdcrOrja-av, oh fiirpov rjv avvafKôrepwv BtaKoaicov.

ol Be XoiTToX 7rdvre<i e/caXovvro 6fJT€^, oh ovBe/uav

dpx^LV eBco/cev dpxv^f dXXa tw avpeKKXrja-idêiv

Kol Bi/cdêcv fjbovov /jberelôv t^9 TroXtre/a?. o

KUT apx^'^ H'^v ovBeVy varepov Be irafifiiyeOeî

€(pdv7j' ra yap irXelcrra rwv Bia(p6pa)V iveTTtTrrev

eh T0U9 BiKacTrd^;. /cal yap ocra rah dp^cth

eraê Kplveiv, ojxoio)^ kcu rrepl eKeivoav eh ro

4SO

SOLON, XVII. i-xviii. 2

convicted of idleness were put to death, and thosewho stole salad or fruit received tlie same punish-ment as those who committed sacrilege or murder.Therefore Demades, in later times, made a hit whenhe said that Draco's laws were written not with ink,but blood. And Draco himself, they say, beingasked why he made death the penalty for most

offences, replied that in his opinion the lesser ones

deserved it, and for the greater ones no heavier

penalty could be found.

XVI II. In the second place, wishing to leave all

the magistracies in the hands of the well-to-do, as

they were, but to give the common people a share

in the rest of the government, of which they hadhitherto been deprived, Solon made an appraisementof the property of the citizens.^ Those who enjoyeda yearly increase of Jive hundred measures (wet and

dry), he placed in the first class, and called themPentakosiomedimnoi ; the second class was com-

posed of those who were able to keep a horse, or

had a yearly increase of three hundred measures,and they were called Hippada Telountes, since

they paid a Knight's tax ; the members of the third

class, whose yearly increase amounted to twohundred measures (wet and dry together), werecalled Zeugitai. All the rest were called Thetes ;

they were not allowed to hold any office, but took

part in the administration only as members of the

assembly and as jurors. This last privilege seemedat first of no moment, but afterwards proved to be'

of the very highest importance, since most disputes

finally came into the hands of these jurors. For

even in cases which Solon assigned to the magistrates1 Cf. Aristotle, C(m8t. of Athens^ vii. 3f.

451u

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

hiKacrrripLov €<pea€i,<i eScoKe tol<; fiov\ofi€voi<;.

3 Xeyerai he /cal Toij<^ v6/iov<; aaa<îaTepov ypdylraf;

fcal TToWas avTiXrj'yêL's eôvra^ av^rjcrai rrjv

TMV SiKaorrrjpLcov Icr^vv' fjurj hvvafjievov^ yap vtto

Tcov vojjLwv BiaXvdrjvao irepl cjv Bi,€(f)€povTO, avve-

jSaivev ael SecaOat BcKacrTcbv Koi irav ayeiv

ap,(f)Lcr^7]Tr)/iia 7rpo<; eKeivov(;» rpoirov tlvcl tmv4 vofjicov Kvpiovq ovra^. eTncrrj/MLiveraL 8* avTo^

avrat rrfv aîaxrvv ovTco'i'

^rjfxtp fiev yap eScoKa toctov Kparofi oaaov

cLTTapKel,

TL/jLTjf; OUT acjyeXcdv out' iirope^dfjuevo^'

o'c S' elôv hvvafjiiv /cal 'Xp^P'Ct(Tiv rjaav dyrjroC,

Kol Tot(; i(f>pacrdfi7)v firjSev deiKe^ eêiv.

earrjv S* d/xcfuâXoov Kparepov adfco^; dficpori-

poidi'

viKav S* ovK etaa ovBeripovf; dhiKco^,

5 "Et* fievTOL fiaXkov olofievo^ helv eirapKeiv TyTCOV TToWwv daOevela, iravrl Xa/Selv BUrjv vTrep

rod KaKOi^ TTeirovOoTo^^ eScoKe. Kal yap 7r\r)yevT0<;

irepov Kal ^Lacrdevro'^ rj P\aêvTO<; e^rjv t«

Bvvafievtp Kal ôvKoixevcp ypd(f>eadaL rov dSi-

Kovvra Kal Bicofceiv, opOco^ iOiôvTo^ tov vofioOirov

TovcovovvTa \6yov avrov Biap,vr)pLovevov-

^/ue'pTj adiixaros (or a-w/xaros fi^pr)) Corals and Bekker, after

Xylander : fvhs fifpovs.

SOLON, XVIII. 2-5

for decision, he allowed also an appeal to a popularcourt when any one desired it. Besides, it is said

that his laws were obscurely and ambiguously wordedon purpose to enhance the power of the popularcourts. For since parties to a controversy could not

get satisfaction from the laws, the result was that

they always wanted jurors to decide it, and every

dispute was laid before them, so that they were in a

manner masters of the laws. And he himself claims

the credit for this in the following words :—"For to the common people I gave so much power

as is sufficient.

Neither robbing them of dignity, nor giving themtoo much ;

And those who had power, and were marvellously

rich.

Even for these I contrived that they suffered noharm.

I stood with a mighty shield in front of both classes.

And suffered neither of them to prevail unjustly."^

Moreover, thinking it his duty to make still

further provision for the weakness of the multitude,he gave every citizen the privilege of entering suit

in behalf of one who had suffered wrong. If a manwas assaulted, and suffered violence or injury, it wasthe privilege of any one who had the ability and the

inclination, to indict the wrong-doer and prosecutehim. The law-giver in this way rightly accustomed

the citizens, as members of one body, to feel and

sympathize with one another's wrongs. And we are

told of a saying of his which is consonant with this

*Fragment 5 (Bergk) ; Aristotle, Const, of Athens, xii. 1 ;

cf. also ix. 1 f.

453

L

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(Tiv. epcoTTjOeh yap, co? eoiKCVy rjri,^ oiKetrai

KuXkiara tmv ttoXscdv,"

'E/ceti;?;," elirev," iv rj

rwv aBiKovfjLevQ)v ov;^ rirrov ol fir) aBtKOVfievot

TTpo^dWovrac /cat KoXdôvcrc tou? dSiKovvra^;.^*

XIX. iv(TTr](Td/ji6V06(Tei, Bevripav irpocTKareveifie jSovXr/v, diro

<j)u\^<; e/cao-TT;?, reTrdpcov ovacav, eKarov dvBpa<i

eTrCke^dfjuevo^, ou? irpoôvXeveiv eVafe rov Syfiov

Kol /jLr]B6V iav dirpoôvXevTov et? €KKX7]aLav

2 elcrêpeaOai, ttjv 5' dvco ôvXrjv iiria-KO'Trov

irdvTcov Kol (pvXa/ca rcov vojjlcov CKdOiaev, olo-

fi€vo<; iirl Bv(tI povXal<; axrirep oyKVpai^ opjxov-

aav rJTTOV iv adX(p Tr)v ttoXlv eaeaOai Kal fidXXov

drpe/JLovvra rov Brjfxov Trapeêtv.

Ol /lev ovv TrXelaroi ttjv ef Âpeiov irdrfov

povXrjVy M(77rep etpTjraL, ôXcova (Tvarrjo-aaOai

(paar tcaX fiaprvpelv avroh Bo/cel /adXta-ra ro

/jLTjBa/JLOv Tov Apdxovra Xeyetv fjurjB* ovofjudêiv

ÂpeoTrayura'^y dXXa rot? i(j)eTai<; del BiaXeyecOat

3 irepl ra>v ôvlkwv. 6 B^ rpi(TKatBeKaTO<i d^cov

rov XoXcovof; rov oyBoov e%6i tojv v6/jlcov ovtcd^

avTOt? ovofjuacri yerfpap,fxevov."

Âtljjlcov oaoi

drifjLOL riaav irplv rj lôXoova dpâi, iircTlfiovf;

elvat ttXtjv oaoi, ef^

Apeiov irdyov r)oaoi eK T<av

454

SOLON, XVIII. 5-xix. 3

raw. Being asked, namely, what city was best

live in," Tliat city," he replied, "in which those

who are not wronged, no less than those who are

wronged, exert themselves to punish the wrong-doers."

XIX. After he had established the council of the

Areiopagus, consisting of those who had been archons

year by year (and he himself was a member of this

body, since he had been archon), he observed that thecommon people were uneasy and bold in consequenceof their release from debt, and therefore established

another council besides, consisting of four hundred

men, one hundred chosen from each of the four tribes.^

These were to deliberate on pubHc matters before

the people did, and were not to allow any matter to

come before the popular assembly without such

previous deliberation. Then he made the uppercouncil a general overseer in the state, and guardianof the laws, thinking that the city with its two

councils, riding as it were at double anchor, wouldbe less tossed by the surges, and would keep its

populace in greater quiet.Now most writers say that the council of the

Areiopagus, as I have stated, was established bySolon. And their view seems to be strongly

supported by the fact that Draco nowhere makes

any mention whatsoever of Areiopagites, but alwaysaddresses himself to the "

ephetai"

in cases of

homicide. Yet Solon's thirteenth table contains the

eighth of his laws recorded in these very words :

" As many of the disfranchised as were made such

before the archonship of Solon, shall be restored to

their rights and franchises, except such as were

Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athens, viii. 4.

455

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

€(f)eTwv rj ifc Trpvraveiov KaraSifcaaOeme^ vtto

TMV âatXicov iirl (povrp rj (Kpayaccnv rj iirl

4 TVpavvihi ecpevyov ore 6 Oeafio^ e(f)dvr) oSe." TavTa

St) TToXiv ct)9 irpo T?}? ^6\a)V0<; a/?%?)9 /cat vojjbo-

Oe(Tia<^ rrjv i^ ^Kpeiov irdyov jSovXrjv ovaav

ivSeiKvvraL. Tlve<; yap âav ol Trpo X6\(ovo<:

iv *Ap€[(p Trdyo) KaraStKacrOevre^;, el 7rpct)ro<;

XoXcov eBcoKC rfi ef 'Apeuov irdyov jSovXfj rb

Kpiveiv; el firf vrj Aua yeyovi tc<; dadcpeia rov 89

ypdfjbfxaTO^ rj eKkeiyjriî, ware rov? rjXcoKorafi eValTLai,<; al<; Kpivovai, vvv ol ÂpeoTrayirai Kal

iipirai, koX irpyrdvet'^, ore 6 6eafjbo<; icpdvrj oBe,

fxeveiv dTifiov<;, rcov aWwv iircTi/jLoyv yevo/nivayv,

ravra /jlcv ovv koX avro^ iincrKOTrei.

XX. Tcov ^ aWcov avrov vo/ucov tSto? fiev

fidXtara koI 7rapdSoô<; 6 KeXevcov drcfiov elvai ^Tov iv crrdaet fJuriBerepa^ /Ji€pLBo<; yevojievov. /Sov-

Xerai S', 0)9 eoiKe, firj diraOM^; fJurjB^ dvaio-OiJTO)^

e'xetv 7r/)09 to kolvov, iv da-âXel Oefjuevov tcl

olKela Kol tS firj (TwaXyelv fxt^Be avvvoaelv rfj

iraTpLBi KaWcoTTtô/jLevov, dX)C avroOev Tot<i ra

jSeXrico Kal BiKaiorepa Trpdrrovai irpoaOeixevov,

(TvyfcivBvvevecv /cal /3o7)96lv, fidWov rj TrepLfieveiv

2 dKivBvvoD^ rh twv Kparovvrcov. aroiro^ Be BoKet

Kal 7€Xoto9 o ry iinK\r]p(£) BlBov<;, av o KparwvKal Kvpio'^ yeyova)<^ Kara tov vopov avro^; /xtf

BvvaTO^ y irXrjaidêiVt vtto tcov eyycdTa tov

4S6

SOLON, XIX. 3-xx. 2

condemned by the Areiopagus^ or by the ephetai, or

in the prytaneium by thekiiigs^ on charges of murderor homicide, or of seeking to establish a tyranny, andwere in exile when this law was published." This

surely proves to the contrary that the council of the

Areiopagus was in existence before the archonshipand legislation of Solon. For how could men havebeen condemned in the Areiopagus before the timeof Solon, if Solon was the first to give the council of

the Areiopagus its jurisdiction.-^ Perhaps, indeed,there is some obscurity in the document, or some

omission, and the meaning is that those who had beenconvicted on charges within the cognizance of those

who were Areiopagites and ephetai and prytaneswhen the law was published, should remain dis-

franchised, while those convicted on all other chargesshould recover their rights and franchises. This

question, however, my reader must decide for himself.

XX. Among his other laws there is a very peculiarand surprising one which ordains that he shall bedisfranchised who, in time of faction, takes neither

side.^ He wishes, probably, that a man should not beinsensible or indifferent to the common weal,

arranging his private affairs securely and glorying in

the fact that he has no share in the distempers anddistresses of his country, but should rather espouse

promptly the better and more righteous cause, share

its perils and give it his aid, instead of waiting in

safety to see which cause prevails. That law, too,seems absurd and ridiculous, which permits an

heiress, in case the man under whose power and au-

thority she is placed by law is himself unable to con-

sort with her, to be married by one of his next of kin.

* Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athens, viii. 6.

457

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avEpoî oTTveadai. koI tovto S* opBw^ e^îvTive^ (paai tt/jo? tov? fMrj Bvva/Ji€vov<; (Twelvai,

Xp7)juLdT(ov 8* evexa XapL^dvovraf; iiriKXi^pov^ kol

To3 vofiw KaTa/3iaôiJL€vov<; rrjv ^vaiv. 6pcovTe<;

'yap ft) fiovXerai Tr)v iTTL/cXrjpov avvovaavtj

TTpoi]aovTaL Tov ydfiov r) psr ala'xyvr)^; KaOeôvai,3 (f)iXo7r\ovTia<; kol vppeccx; Slktjv SiBovre^. ev

3' eêi KoX TO fit) iraaiv, dXka rwv avyyevcovTOV dvBpo^ o5 ôvXeTai BidXeyeadai Tr)v iiTLKXr}-

pOVy OTTCDf; OLKelov Tj Koi fJL€TeXOV TOV yeVOV^ TO

TLKTOfieVOV, €69 TOVTO Sk (7VVT€k€L KOl JO TTJV

vv/jL(j)r]v Tft) vvfKpLO) (7vyfca0€ipyvv(TOat firfKov

KvBcDViOv KaTaTpayovoravy koi to Tph e/cdcrTov

fMrfvo'!; ivTvyxdvecv irdvTtoî Trj iTriKXtjpO) tov

\ap6vTa. Koi yap el fir) yevoLVTO iralhe^;, dXKa

TifJLT] Ti9 dv8pb(; avTi] Tryoo? aco^pova yvvalxa, koX

(îXo^poavvr) ttoXXcl twi' (TvXXeyo/jievcov CKaaTOTe

Bva')(€p(i3V d<paipou(Ta, kol raZ? BLa(j)opat<; ov/c

icb(7a TrapTdwacnv diroaTpacpTJvai.4 Tc^v 8' dXXcov ydficov dcpeXXe ra? (f)€pvd<;, IpâTia

Tpia Kal (TKevr) pLLKpov vojxiapxiTO^ dîa KeXevaa^,

€T6pov Be firjBev eiTLcêpeaOai ttjv ya/jLOV/ievt]v. ov

yap e/SovXeTO paaOoôpov ovB^ coviov elvat tov

ydjjLov, dXX' eirl Te/cvcoaei kol ')(^dpLTL Kal ^XottjtlyiveaOai tov dvSpo<; Kal yvvaiKo^ avvoLKiapôv.6 p,ev yap Aiovvaio<;, d^tovarjf; Trj<; /jL7)Tpo<; avTov

BoOrjvai tlvl tcov TroXiToyv Trpo^ ydfiov, ecj)?) tou?

fjLev tt}? TToXeft)? v6fM0vaycoy(ov Trap" rfXiKiav ev Be rat? iroXeai

TTJV aTaîav tuvttjv ov Boreov, ovBe irepiOTTTeov

458

SOLON, XX. 2-5

Some, however, say that this was a wise provision

against those who are unable to perform the duties

of a husband, and yet, for the sake of their property,

marry heiresses, and so under cover of law, doviolence to nature. For when they see that the

heiress can consort with whom she pleases, they will

either desist from such a marriage, or make it to their

shame, and be punished for their avarice andinsolence. It is a wise provision, too, that the

heiress may not choose her consort at large, but onlyfrom the kinsmen of her husband, that her offspring

may be of his family and lineage. Conformable to

this, also, is the requirement that the bride eat a

quince and be shut up in a chamber with the bride-

groom ; and that the husband of an heiress shall

approach her thrice a month without fail. For even

though they have no children, still, this is a mark of

esteem and affection which a man should pay to a

chaste wife ; it removes many of the annoyanceswhich develop in all such cases, and prevents their

being altogether estranged by their differences.

In all other marriages he prohibited dowries ; thebride was to bring with her three changes ofraiment,household stuffof small value, and nothing else. Forhe did not wish that marriage should be a matter of

profit or price, but that man and wife should dwell

together for the delights of love and the getting ofchildren. Dionysius, indeed, when his mother askedhim to give her in marriage to one of his citizens,said that, although he had broken the laws of the

city by being its tyrant, he could not outrage thelaws of nature by giving in marriage where ageforbade. And so our cities should not allow this

irregularity, nor tolerate unions which age forbids

459

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aaypov^ /cal a')(apL'Tov<; iTTiirXoKa^; koX fiyBev epyov

jafM^Xiov i')(pvaa<; /jbrjSe reXo?. aWa yepovrc viav

arôpievcp (j)aL7} Tii^ rj vojjLo6€Tr}<:

TO 7rpo<; Tov îXokt^ttjv'

€v yovv (u? yapelv eêi? raXa?,

Kal veov iv Sw/taTtco 7r\ovaia<; Trpeafivriô^;,

coairep ol irepSi/ce';, oltto avvovaia<; ira^vvopevov

eâvevpwv /isToiKLaei TTyoo? ivapOevov vvp.^r)v

avhpo'^ BeopevTjv. ravra pêv ovv irepl rovToav.

XXI. ^RTTatvelrai, Be tov 2)oXft)zô9 Kal 6 Kwkvayv

v6po(; TOV TedvrjKOTa KaKw^ ayopeveiv, koI yapoaiov Tov<; psOeaTcoTa^ lepoii^ voptêiv, Kal BuKaLov

airk-yeGdai tS)v ovx virapxovTcov, Kal ttoXltlkov

dtpaipelv T^9 e')(dpa<; to diBiov. ^(ovTa Be /ca/cw?

Xeyeiv eKoikvae irpo^ lepoh Kal BiKaaTTjpioL^ Kal

dp-)(eiOL<i Kal Oecdpia^ ovar]^ dycdvcov t) Tpel'î

BpaxP'OLî TO) IBicoTTj, Bvo S' aXXa9 diroTiveiv ehTO Brj/jioaiov eVafe. to yap pbrjBapov KpaTelv

opyrjf; diraLBevTOv Kal aKoXaaTov to Be iravTa'xôv

'Xakeirov, evioi^ Be dBvvaTov Bel Be 7rpb<s to Bvva-

Tov ypdêaOai tov v6p,ov, el ôvXeTai XPV^^H'^^

oXiyovi, dXXd prj ttoXXou? a%/9?;<7Tft)9 fcoXdêiv*

îvBoKLp^rjae Be Kdv t& irepl BiaOrjKcov v6p,(p*

TTpOTcpov yap ovk iîjv, aXV iv Ta> yevei tov

TeOvrjKOTOî eBei to, 'x^prjpaTa Kal tov oIkov KaTa-

peveiv, 6 B' w ôvXeTaC Ti9 e7nTpeyjfa<;, el p>rj

460

SOLON, XX. 5-XX1. 2

and love does not invite, which do not fulfil the

function of marriage, and defeat its object. Nay,to an old man who is marrying a young wife, any

worthy magistrate or lawgiver might say what is

said to Philoctetes ^:

"Indeed, poor wretch, thou art in fine state for

marrying !

"

And if he discovers a young man in the house of a

rich and elderly woman, waxing fat, like a cock-

partridge, in her service, he will remove him and

give him to some marriageable maid that wants a

husband. Thus much, then, on this head. \XXI. Praise is given also to that law of Solon which

forbids speaking ill of the dead. For it is piety A<2^^

to regard the deceased as sacred, justice to sparethe absent, and good policy to rob hatred of its

perpetuity. He also forbade speaking ill of the

living in temples, courts-of-law, public offices, andat festivals ; the transgi-essor must pay three drachmasto the person injured, and two more into the public

treasury. For never to master one's anger is a

mark of intemperance and lack of training ; but

always to do so is difficult, and for some, impossible.And a law must regard the possibilities in the case,

if its maker wishes to punish a few to some purpose,and not many to no purpose.He was highly esteemed also for his law con- .^,

cerning wills. Before his time, no will could be ^made, but the entire estate of the deceased mustremain in his family. Whereas he, by permitting a

^ In a play of this name, of uncertain authorship. See

Nauck, Tra(j. Grnec. Frarj.-, p. 841. Plutarch cites twoentire verses iu Morals, p. 789 a.

VOL I. Q 461

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

7ratS€9 elev avrw, Sovvai rb, avrov, (piXiav re

avyyeveia^ irC/jLTjae /jloXXov koX X^P^^ avdyKrjt},

KoX ra xp^lf^^'^cL KTij/juara tmv ixovrcov iiroLrjaev,

3 ov firjv dviSrjv y€ iraXiv ovS* aTrXw? Ta? S6a6L<;

i(l)7]K€v, aXX' el/j-t]

voctcov eve/cevrj (j)apfidK(ov rj

SeafjLCOV^ rj dvdyKrj /caracr^jêêi? ?; yvvaiKi TTido-

fievo^y^ ev irdvv koI irpoar^KovTcof; to 7reia6rjvai

irapa to êkTiaTov ovSev r)yov/Ji€voJ ei^ TavTO Tr]v dirdT'qv ttj dvdyKrj

Kol Tft) TTOVO) TTjP TjBoVTjV 06fl6VO<i, C09 OV^ ^TTOV

iK(TT7]aai XoyLCTfiov dvOpdyirov Swa/juivcov,

4 Ê7re(7T7]cre Be Koi TaU iôhoL^ twv yvvaiKwvKOLi Tot? irevOecTi koi tol^ kopTot^ vofiov direip-

yovTCb TO aTa/cTov koI dKoXacrrov iîevai /xev

ifiaTiwv Tpicov fjLT) likeov eôvaav KeXevaa^, jjLrjBe

PpcoTOV 1] TTOTOV TrXeiovo^ rf oôXov (pepofiivrjv,

/jLTjSe /cdv7]Ta TnjxvaCov fielôvay firjSe vvfCTcop

TTopeveaOaL irXrjv dfid^rj KOfiLô/jbivrjv Xvx^ôv irpo-

<j>aivovTo<;. *A/iu%a9 Be KOTTTO/Juevwv koi to 6pr)-

velv TreTTonj/jLeva fcal to KcoKvecv dXXov iv raât?5 €T€pa)v d(j)€LX€v, evayiêiv Be fiovp ovk eiaa-ev,

ovBe avvTiOevat irXeov IfiaTicov TpiSiv, ovS* iir^

dXXoTpia fivTjfjuaTa âBlêiv %&)/)t9 IkkoimiByi^;. wv

TO, irXelcTTa koi Tot9 yfieTepot<; v6fioi<; dirrjyopev-

TUL' TTpoaKecrai Be Tor9 rjiieTepoi^ ^rjfitovaOai

*5€<r/i«»' Bekker adopts Schaefer's correction to 5€<r^y.

*vidS/xevos Cobet : ireiOS/xtyos.

462

SOLON, XXI. 2-5

man who had no children to give his property to

whom he wished^ ranked friendship above kinship^and favour above necessity, and made a man's

possessions his own property. On the other hand,he did not pennit all manner of gifts without re-

striction or restraint, but only those which were not

made under the influence of sickness, or drugs,or imprisonment, or when a man was the victim of

compulsion or yielded to the persuasions of his wife.

He thought, very rightly and properly, that beingpersuaded into wrong was no better than beingforced into it, and he placed deceit and compulsion^

gratification and affliction, in one and the same

category, believing that both were alike able to

pervert a man's reason.

He also subjected the public appearances of the

women, their mourning and their festivals, to a lawwhich did away with disorder and licence. Whenthey went out, they were not to wear more thanthree garments, they were not to carry more thanan obol's worth of food or drink, nor a pannier morethan a cubit high, and they were not to travel about

by night unless they rode in a waggon with a lampto light their way. Laceration of the flesh bymourners, and the use of set lamentations, and the

bewailing of any one at the funeral ceremonies of

another, he forbade. The sacrifice of an ox at the

grave was not permitted, nor the burial with thedead of more than three changes of raiment, nor the

visiting of other tombs than those of their ownfamily, except at the time of interment. Mostof these practices are also forbidden by our laws,but ours contain the additional proviso that such

463

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Toif^ rh Toiavra Troiovi'Ta^ viro tS)v yx/vaiKov6fJLG>v,

tt)9 avdvhpoL^ Kol yvvaifccoSea-i, roh jrepl to. irevOti

irddeai koI d/iaprrj/jLacriv eVeôyLteiôu?.

XXII. 'Op(ov 8e TO fjuev daru Tri/xirXd/jLevov dv-

OpcoTTCov del (TvppeovTwv 7ravTa')(^60€v eV dSeia*;

eh Tr)v ^KTTLKrjV, rd he TrXelcrra T779 ')(â)pa<; dyevvrj

Kol (pavXa, Tov<; Se ^pw/teVof? rfj doKaTTrj firjhev

eloDOora^ eladyeiv roh firjBev exovcrcv dvTcBovvai,

irpof; Ta9 Te^va^ erpeyjre Tov rpetpeiv rov Trarepa /xt) hiha^dfievov2 rexvrjv iTrdvayxe^ fir) elvai. tw jxev yap AvKovpya>Koi TToXiv OLKOvvri KaOapdv o^Xov êviKov Kal

^(Dpav K€KTr]fjLev(p

TloXXoLCTi, iroXXrjv, St? roaoh he irXeiova}

Kar FiVpLTriBrjVy jcal to fieytcrTov, eiXcoTifCov ttXtJ-

6ov<;, o 0eXTiov tjv /xy aôXdêtVy dXXd TpijSo/ievovdel Kal iTovovv TaTTeivovadai, TrepiKe^v/jLepov ttj

AafceBauôvi, KaXco<; eZêz/ daxoXtwv iTTCirovcov

Kal fiavavcTcov diraXXdâvTa tov<; TToXiTa^ avve-

'^(eLVev T0t9 oirXoi^y pbiav Texvr}v TavTTfv eKfiavdd-

3 vovTa^ Kal daKOvvTa^' ôXcov Be to?? TrpdyfiacnTou? v6fjL0v<; pbdXXov rj Td irpdypâTa Toh v6/jloc<;

TTpoaapiJi6^(ov, Kal t^? %<wy9a? ttjv (j>v(Ttv opayv rot?

yecopyovcTi yXia"X^p(o<; BiapKOvcraVy dpyov Be Kal

axoXaa-TTjv oxXov ov Bvvafievrjv TpecpeiVy rat?

T€)(ûaL^ dî(op.a TrepieOrjKe, Kal Trjv ef *ApeLOV

nrdyov ffovXrjv eraêv eiriaKOTrelv 69ev CKaa-TO^

ex'^L ra iTrcTijBeta, Kal tov<; dpyov<; KoXdêiv.^Following Nauck {Trag. Grace. FragJ^y p. 680) : voWois,

Totro7(r9€.

. 464

SOLON, XXI. 5-xxii. 3

lenaers shall be punished by the board of censors

for women, because they indulge in unraanly andeffeminate extravagances of sorrow when they mourn.

XXII. Observing that the city was getting full of

people who were constantly streaming into Attica

from all quarters for greater security of living, andthat most of the country was unfruitful and worth-

less, and that seafaring men are not wont to import

goods for those who have nothing to give them in

exchange, he turned the attention of the citizens to

the arts of manufacture, and enacted a law that noson who had not been taught a trade should be com-

pelled to support his father. It was well enough for

Lycurgus, whose city was free from swarms of

strangers, and whose country was, in the words of

Euripides,

"For many large, for twice as many more than

large,"

and because, above all, that country was flooded

with a multitude of Helots, whom it was better not

to leave in idleness, but to keep down by continual

hardships and toil,—it was well enough for him to

set his citizens free from laborious and mechanical

occupations and confine their thoughts to arms,

giving them this one trade to learn and practice.But Solon, adapting his laws to the situation, rather

than the situation to his laws, and observing that

the land could give but a mere subsistence to those

who tilled it, and was incapable of supporting an

unoccupied and leisured multitude, gave dignity to\si/^

all the trades, and ordered the council of the Areio-vT^^ ^

pagus to examine into every man's means of liveli- Ojv^vShood, and chastise those who had no occupation.

/a^*^ \

465

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

kraipa^ <yevofihot<; lirava'^Ke^ elvai toxx; iraripa^

Tp6(f)eLV, &)9 *J[lpaK\€iSr)<; IcrToprjKev 6 lilovTLK6<;, 6

yap iv yd/jL^ irapopwv to koXov ov retcvcov evexa

S>}Xo9 i<TTiVy dX)C r)8ovrj<; dy6/x€V0<; yvvatKa, rov

re fjLio-Oov avreêt, Kal Trapprjacav avrw irpo^ tou9

yevo/nevov^; ovk dTroXekoiirev, oh avro ro yevkadai

rreiToiriKev oveiSo^.

XXIIL "0Xa)9 Be TrXeiaryv e')(eiv droiriav oi

rrepX r5)V yvvaiKMV vofjuot rw ôXwvl SoKovai.

fiotxov /iiev yap dveXelv r^ Xafiovrc BeScoKev

eav 8* apirdari ri'; iXevOepav yvvalfca Kal îd-

arjrai, ^rjfjbiav exarov Bpa')(îxa^ eraê' Kav irpo-

aywyevrjy SpaxP'Ci'i eiKoa-L, ttXtjv oaat Treâcr/xezô)? 9]

TTcoXovvrai, Xeycov Brj ra<; eraipa^;. avrai yap2 ifM(pavco<; ôiraxri, 7ryoo9 rou? BiB6vra<;. en S' ovre

6vyarepa<i rrcoXelv our dBeX(j)a<; BiBeocTL, irXrji/

avfJLT) Xdpy irapOevov dvBpl avyyeyevqiievrjv.

ro 8' avro irpayixa irore jiev ircKpco^; Kal dirapai-

t?;tg)9 KoXdêcv, irore 3' euKoXco^; Kal Traiôvra,

TTpoa-ri/jLOv ^Tjfiiav rr}V rvxovaav oplôvra, dXoyoveart' irXyv ei firj (TiravLôvro^ rore rod vo/iLap.aro<;

ev rfj ttoXgl fjLeydXa<; eTTolei Ta9 dpyvpLKo,^ îj/jLiaf;

3 TO BucnropLO-rov, eh p-ev ye ra ri/i7ii.iara r(x)v

OvaiMV Xoyitêrai 7rp6,8arov Kal Bpa'XP'rjv dvrl

fjLeBifjLvov r(p B' "lo-OpLta viKija-avn Bpa'XP'a^ eraêv€Karbv BlBoaOat, rep B^ ÔXvpuna irevraKoaia^'

XvKov Be Tft) KOfiicravrt rrevre Bpax/â^; eBcoKe,

XvKiBia Be p,[av, d)v (jyrjatv 6 âXrjpev^ Ar]p,7]Tpio<;

ro fjLev j3oo<i elvat, ro Be irpo^drov ri^^rjp. a? yap

466

SOLON, XXII. 4-xxiir. 3

But that provision of his was yet more severe, which,as Heracleides Ponticus informs us, relieved the sons

who were born out of wedlock from the necessity of

supporting their fathers at all. For he that avoids

the honourable state of marriage, clearly takes a

woman to himself not for the sake of children, butof pleasure ; and he has his reward, in that he robs

himself of all right to upbraid his sons for neglectinghim, since he has made their very existence a reproachto them.

XXIII. But in general, Solon's laws concerning ..nJ^'^''*^

women seem very absurd. For instance, he per-mitted an adulterer caught in the act to be killed ;

but if a man committed rape upon a free woman, hewas merely to be fined a hundred drachmas ; and if

he gained his end by persuasion, twenty drachmas,unless it were with one of those who sell themselves

openly, meaning of course the courtesans. Forthese go openly to those who offer them their price.Still further, no man is allowed to sell a daughter or

a sister, unless he find that she is no longer a virgin.But to punish the same offence now severely and

inexorably, and now mildly and pleasantly, makingthe penalty a slight fine, is unreasonable ; unless

money was scarce in the city at that time, and the

difficulty of procuring it made these monetary punish-ments heavy. In the valuations of sacrificial offerings,at any rate, a sheep and a bushel ofgrain are reckonedat a drachma ; the victor in the Isthmian games wasto be paid a hundred drachmas, and the Olympicvictor five hundred ; the man who brought in a wolf,was given five drachmas, and for a wolf's whelp,one; the former sum, according to Demetrius the

Phalerian, was the price of an ox, the latter that of

467

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eV T^ iKKaiBeKaro) tS)v aôvcov opiêi rifik^; r(ov

€KKpiT(op L€p6L0)v, et/co? fiev elvai iroXkaTrXaaia^,

dXXco<; Be Ka/ceivai, Trpo? Ta<: vvv eureXet? elcnv.

4 apxaôv Be Tolî^

X6rivaioL<; to irokep^lv T0t9

XvKoi^, êXrlova vepeiv rj ryecopyeXv %<»yoai/ exovcri.

KoX T<Z9 <f)v\a<; elalv oi \eyovre<i ovk airb rcov

"Icovo'; vlo)v, aXX! airo tcop yevcov, eh a Bcypidijcrav

ol ^LoL TO irpcoTOVy oyvopjdadaL, to fiev fid^Lpôv

'OTrXtra?, to 8' ipyaTiKov 'EyoyaSet?* Bveiv 8e

T(ov XoLTTcov VeXkovTa^ p.ev tov<; yeQ)pyov<;, Alyi-

Kopei<; irT^yalf; rj

X^pf^ BiapK7]<;, dW* ol TrXelaToi (^peaaL iroiTjToh

iXpoi)VTO, vojjlov eypayjrev, oirov puev eaTL Bijpôacov

(ppeap 6J/T09 linri/cov, %/9ô-âi tovto)' to B^ linri-

Kov BidaTrjfia Tecrcrdpcov rjv (TTaBiwv' oirov Be

irXeiov direxei', ^rjTelv vBcop XBlov edv Be 6pvâvTe<i

opyvicov BeKa ^d6o<; irap* eavToh prj eupcoai.

Tore Xafi^dveiv irapa tov yeLTova e^dôvv

vBpiav 8t9 €Kd(7T7}<: rfp.epa<i TrXrjpovvTa^;' diropia

yap weTO Belv fiorjOelv, ovk dpyiav e<f)oBid^€iv.

6 wpio'e Be koX <f)VT€i(ov perpa p,dX^ e/x7r€t/?&J9, tou9

p.ev dXXo Ti <pvT€vovTa<i iv dypw irevre TroBa^;

46S

SOLON, xxiii. 3-6

a sheep. For although the prices which Solon fixes

in his sixteenth table are for choice victims, and

naturally many times as great as those for ordinaryones, still, even these are low in comparison with

present prices. Now the Athenians were from of

old great enemies of wolves, since their country wasbetter for pasturage than for tillage. And there are

those who say that their four tribes were originally

named, not from the sons of Ion, but from the

classes into which occupations were divided;

thus

the warriors were called Hoplitai, the craftsmen

Ergadeis ;and of the remaining two, the farmers

were called Geleontes, the shepherds and herdsmen

Aigikoreis.^Since the country was not supplied with water by

ever-flowing rivers, or lakes, or copious springs, butmost of the inhabitants used wells which had been

dug, he made a law that where there was a publicwell within a "hippikon," a distance of four furlongs,that should be used, but where the distance was

greater than this, people must try to get water of

their own ; if, however, after digging to a depth of

ten fathoms on their own land, they could not getwater, then they might take it from a neighbour's*well, filling a five gallon jar twice a day; for he Athought it his duty to aid the needy, not to provision [

Cthe idle. He also showed great experience in thelimits which he set to the planting of trees ; no onecould set out a tree in a field within five feet of his

1 This is strained etymology to explain the ancient tribal

names of Hopletes, Argadeis, Geleontes, and Aigikoreis,which are derived, in Herodotus v. 66, from the names of thefour sons of Ion, The first has nothing to do with "

hopla,"arms; nor the second with "ergon," 7oorh; nor the thirdwith "ge," earth ; nor the fourth with "aix," goat.

469

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aireyeiv rov yetrovof; ice\evcra<;, rov<; Be avKtjv

rjeXaiav ivvea. Troppcoripco yap i^cKveirat

Tavra raU piâi^, kol ov Trdai yeirvia tol<;

(j)VTOL<i a(JLV(i)<;, aXka kol rpO(j)rjv TTapaipetTaLKoX pkcLTTTOvcrav ivLOi<i cLTTOpporjp a(f)Lr)ai,. /9o-

6pov<; Be KoX Td(j)pou<; rov ôvXojiievov ixiXevaep

opvcTdeiv, oaov epi^dWei ^ddo<i, dcfyco-rdi-ievov

firJKOî rdWoTpLOV /cat fieXiaacov a/jL'ijvr) /cadiard-

fievov d'iTe')(eLV tmv v(j)* erepov Trporepov IBpufiivcov

iroBa^ rpiaKO(TLov<;,

XXIV. Twj' Be yivo/JL€V(ov BidOeo-iv tt/jo? feVou?ekalov fxovov eBtoKev, dXka S* i^dyeiv ixcoXvae'

KOi /card rcov iâyovrcov dpd<; rov dpôvra ttol-

eiaOat TrpocreTaêv, rj e/criveLV avrbv eKarov

Bpa'X^fjidfi eU to Brj/jLoanov. koI TrpojTo^ d^cov

iarlv 6 TovTOV irepiexft^v tov v6/jlov. ov/c dv ovv

Ti9 rjyrjaaLTO Tra^reXw? d7n6dvov<; tou? XeyovraÔTi KoX (TVfC(ov eâycoyr) to irakaLOV direlprjTOt

KoX TO (paiveiv evBeiKvv/jievov Toif^ e^dyovra^

KkrjOrjvai crvKOCpavreXv. eypa^Jre Be koI fi\d^7](;

rerpaTToBcov vopLOv, ev w kol Kvva BaKovra irapa-Bovvai KeXeveL kXoim rpLTr^êi BeBefxevov' to fiev

ivOv/xrj/jLa ^dptev 7rpb<; da^dXeiav.2 Tiapexei 8' diropiav kol 6 tcov Br)p.07roLr]TO)P

vofio^, OTi, yeveadai TroXlrat^ ov BlBoxti ttXtjv

Tolf} (fievyovcriv deLc^vyia ttjp eavrcovi) TraveaTioi^

\\0)]vaê /jLeTOLKLôfiivoL^ iirl TexÔ' tovto Be

TTOirjaai (f)a(Ttv avrbv ovx ovrco^ aTreXavvovra 92

Tou? dXXov<; 0)9 KaraKaXov/LievovÂOijvaê tovtov<;

iirl êpaiw rcG fxedeêiv t^9 7ToXLTeia<i, Ka\ afxa

470

SOLON, XXIII. 6-xxiv. 2

mr s field J or, in case it was a fig-tree or an

^live-tree, within nine. For these reach out farther

with their roots, and injure some trees by their

proximity, taking away their nourishment, and

emitting an exhalation which is sometimes noxious.

He that would dig a pit or a trench, must dig it at

the distance of its own depth from his neighbour's ;

and he that would set out hives of bees, must putthem three hundred feet away from those whichanother had already installed.

XXIV. Of the products of the soil, he allowed oil

only to be sold abroad^ but forbade the exportationof others

;and if any did so export, the archon was

to pronounce curses upon them, or else himself paya hundred drachmas into the public treasury. Hisfirst table is the one which contains this law. Onecannot, therefore, wholly disbelieve those who saythat the exportation of figs also was anciently for-

bidden, and that the one who showed up, or pointedout such exporters, was called a "sycophant," or

fig-shoTver, He also enacted a law concerninginjuries received from beasts, according to which a

dog that had bitten anybody must be delivered upwith a wooden collar three cubits long fastened to it;

a happy device this for promoting safety.But the law concerning naturalized citizens is of

doubtful character. He permitted only those to bemade citizens who were permanently exiled fromtheir own country, or who removed to Athens withtheir entire families to ply a trade. This he did,as we are told, not so much to drive away other

foreigners, as to invite these particular ones to

Athens with the full assurance of becoming citizens ;

he also thought that reliance could be placed both

471

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tna-Toiff; vofiiXovTa tov<; fiev airoffe^XrjKoraf; rrjv

eavTwv Sia rrjv avd<yKrjVf tou9 5' aTroXeXo^Trora?

3 hia T7)v yvcofirjv, lBcov Be rod X6\o)vo<: koI to

irepi Trj<;iv Br^fioaiw atTijceco^f oirep avTOf;

rrrapaairetv k€kX7}K€. top yap avTov ovk id

acT€LadaL TroXXa^rt?, iav Be o5 Kadi]Kei firj fiov-

Xrjraiy KoXdêi, to fiev '^yovjjievof; TrXeove^CaVy to

S' vTrepoyp-tav tcov kolvcov.

XXY. ^\(T)(vv Be TOt? v6fjL0L<; iraaLv el^ exarov

iviavToif^ eB(DKe* koI KaTeypd(\>T](Tav eU ^vXivov;

aôva^ iv TrXata-ioi^ Trepiexovat (TTpecl)o/j.€Vov<:,

o)v en KaO^ '^fia^; iv UpvravetG) Xeiyjrava fiiKpa

Bieacoêro' kol TrpoarjyopevOrjaaVy eo?^

ApiaTore-

X?79 (f)7)aL, Kvpêi,<:. fcal KpaTlvo<i 6 KcufiiKoî

eUptj/ce TTOV

IIpo<; Tov ^6\covo<: kol ApdfcovTO<; olctl vvv

(ppuyovacv rjBrj ra? Kd)(^pv<i Tol<i Kvp/Seaiv,

2 eviOL Be (ftacnv lBL(o<i iv oh lepa koI Ovaiai

'iTepie')(0VTaiy Kvp0eL<;, dôva<; Be tou9 aX\ov<;

wvofidaOac, kolvov /juev ovv cofivvev opKov rj ôvXt)

T0U9 X6Xa}vo<; vofiovs ifiTreBooaeiVy XBlov B' eKaarof;

TCdV Oea-fjLoOeTMV iv dyopa 7rpo<; tw XlOw, Kara-

(paTL^cov, et TL 7rapa/3aL7) t(ov deafxoiv, dvBpidvra

')(^pvcFovv laofieTpTjTOv^ dvadrjaecv iv AeXôi9,^

'IffofierpjiTov and iy Ae\<po7s are not in the text of Aristotle.

472

SOLON, XXIV. 2-xxv. 2

iose who had been forced to abandon their own

country, and on those who had left it with a fixed pur-

pose. Characteristic of Solon also was his regulationof the practice of eating at the public table in the

townhall, for which his word was "parasitein."

^ Thesame person was not allowed to eat there often, but

if one whose duty it was to eat there refused, he was

punished. Solon thought the conduct of the firs|

grasping; that of the second, contemptuous of the

public interests.

XXV. All his laws were to have force for a

hundred years, and they were written on "axones,"

or wooden tablets, which revolved with the oblongframes containing them. Slight remnants of these

were still preserved in the Prytaneium when I wasat Athens, and they were called, according to

Aristotle,^" kurbeis." Cratinus, also, the comic poet,

somewhere says :—

''

By Solon, and by Draco too I make mine oath.Whose kurbeis now are used to parch our barley-

,0^'j^^"

f

But some say that only those tablets which relate to

sacred rites and sacrifices are properly called " kur-

beis," and the rest are called "axones." Howeverthat may be, the council took a joint oath to ratifythe laws of Solon, and each of the "

thesmothetai,"or guardians of the statutes, swore separately at the

herald's stone in the market-place, vowing that if

he transgressed the statutes in any way, he woulddedicate at Delphi a golden statue of commensurateworth.

^ Hence, with scornful meaning, the word parasite,' Cf. Const, of Athens, vii, 1, with Sandys' notes.» Kock, Com. Att. Frag. i. p. 94.

473

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

3 ^vvtScbv Sk Tov /A771/09 T^v dvcofiaKiav, Kal rr)v

KLVTjatV T^? <T6\l]V7J<; OUTS BvO/jL6V(p TO) TjTUM

7rdvTco<; ovt dviaxovrt av/jL(j)epo/jL€V7jv, dWd ttoX-

XaKiî T^9 avTrj<; r^fxepa^ Kal KaToXapb^dvovcrav

Kot TrapepxofievTjv tov rfKiovy avTrjv pev erafe

TavTTfv evrjv Kal veav KaXelaOaiy to p,ev irpo

avvohov pôpLov avT7]<; tco iravopêv^ p^rjvly to Be

\oL7rov i]8rj tw dp)(pp,ev(£t irpoarjKeLV r)yovp,evo<;,

7r/9WT09, ft)? €01K€V, 0/3^0)? CLKOVGa^ Ôp,rjpOV Xi-

701^709,

Tov pLev (j)0ivovTO^ P'r]v6<;, tov S* i(TTap,evoio,

Tr)v 5*i(f)€^r]<i ripbipav vovpbrjvLav cKaXeae. Tct^ S*

diT^ ecKaSo^ ov TrpoaTiOei^;, a\V d(j)aip(ov Kal

dvaXvcDV, ScTTrep to, <^coTa T7J9 o-ekrjvq'^ ecapa,

pêxpi' TpiaKaSo^ rjpiOpLr]aev.

4 'Evrel Be tmv vopLwv ela-evexêvTOfv evLoi tcv

ôk(ovL KaO^ eKaaTTiv irpocrrjeaav rjuepav, iirai-

vovvT€<; T] yjri'yovTe'^ rj avpbôv\evovT£<^ ipiBdWeiv

T0L9 y€ypapLpL6V0i<i 6 Ti Tv^pLGV Tj dâLp€iv, ttXcl-

(TTOi 8' rjaav ol 7rvv0av6p,evot Kal dvaKpiPOVTe^

teal KekevovTeî avTov oircof; eKaaTov eêi Kal

'iTpo<i f)v K6LTaL Sidvoiav eTreKBiSdcTKeiv Kal a-acfirj-

5 VLêiv, 6po)v OTL TavTa Kal to irpaTTeiv aTOirov

Kal TO p,r] irpdTTeiv iiriÔovov, 6\(0(; Be Ta<9

aTTopCai'i vTreKaTrjvaL ôv\6pLevo<; Kal Biacpvyeli^

474

SOLON, XXV. 3-5

Observing the irregularity of the months and that

the motion of the moon does not always coincide

with the rising and setting of the sun, but that often

she overtakes and passes the sun on the same day,he ordered that day to be called the Old and

New, assigning the portion of it which precededthe conjunction to the expiring month, and the

remaining portion to the month that was just

beginning. He was thus the first, as it would seem,to understand Homer's verse,^ which speaks of a daywhen

"This month is waning, and the next is setting in,"

and the day following this he called the first of the 60^ Jmonth. After the twentieth he did not count the

days by adding tliem to twenty, but by subtractingthem from thirty, on a descending scale, like the

waning of the moon.^No sooner were the laws of Solon put into operation

than some would come to him every day with praiseji^

or censure of them, or with advice to insert some- I

^

thing into the documents, or take something out.

Very numerous, too, were those who came to himwith inquiries and questions about them, urging himto teach and make clear to them the meaning and

purpose of each several item. He saw that to dothis was out of the question, and that not to do it

would bring odium upon him, and wishing to be

wholly rid of these perplexities and to escape from^

Odyssey, xiv. 162= xix. 307, of the day when Odysseuswould return to Ithaca.

2 Thus the twenty-first was called the tenth, the twenty-second the ninth, and so on, "of the waning montli." Thetwenty-ninth was the second of the waning mouth, thethirtieth the Old and New

475

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TO ^vcrdpearov koI (îkaiTiov rSiv ttoXitcov (6/07-

fia(Tt yap iv /jL€yaXoi<; irdcnv dSeiv ')(â\€7r6v,

ct)9 aL'TO? etprfKe), 7rp6<T)(7jfMa t?;? TrXdvi}^ rrjv

vavKXrjpCav TroLTjadfievof; iêirXevae, heKaerrj irapaTcov *A6r}vai(ov cLTToSTjfilav alrrjad/jLevo';. rjXTriê

yap iv TM ^(^povcp rovrco koI rot? v6p,0L<; avTov<i ^

eaeaOat (Tvvr)6eL^.

XXVL TlpwTov fiev ovv et? KXyvnTov dcpLKeroKal Bierpiylrev, ft)? avro^ <l)7]ai,

NetXou iirl Trpoxofjcri' K.avQ)îBo<; iyyvOev aKrij^;,

'X^povov Be TLva Kal roi? irepi "êvocx^Lv rbv 'HXiov-

TrdXiTrjv Kal ^coy^LV rbv Xatrrjv, XoyiQ)rdTOi<fov(TL Twv iepewVy (TwecfyCSMCTo^rjae' irap wv Kal

Tov ÂrXavTtKov aKovaa'^ \oyoVy co? TIX-aTftji'

(pTjaiv, eTrexîpTjcre Bia Tronj/juirof; iêveyKclv eh2 Toif^ "EXX^î/a?. eireira irXevcra^ eh Kvirpov

yyaiTÔrj Bta(j)€p6vT0)<; viro îXoKvirpov Tivo<i twj;

eKel /SacTiXecov, 09 elx^v ov fieydXrjv ttoXiv,

a}Kla/JL6V7]V VTTO Ari/jL0(j)COVT0(; TOV 07^<7eft)9, TTCpl

TOV KXdpiov TTOTafiov iv %ft)yotoi9 oxypoh fiiv,

aXXce)9 Be Bvax^peo-L Kal (j)avXoi<; Kei/jLevrjv.

eTreicrev ovv avrov 6 %6X(i)v viroKeifievov KaXov 93ireBiov fieTaOevra ttjv iroXiv rjBiova Kal fxeiôva

3 KaraaKevdaai. Kal irapoov iTre/xeXtjOTj tov avv-

OLKLafjLOV, Kal o-vvBceKoa/irja-e 7rp6<; re Scaywyrjv

apLCTTa Kal irpo^; da^dXeoav, coare ttoXXov^; fiev

olKr}Topa^ T(h îKoKvirpco avveXOelv, îjXcoaai Be

T0U9 aXXovî âaiXea^' Sio Kal Ta> %6\wvi Tifirjv

* Tots vS/xois avTovs after MSS. cited by Stephanus ; Bekkerhas rovs v6fj.ovs avTo7s, the conjecture of Stephanus {the lawstoouid befamiliar to them),

476

SOLON, XXV. 5-XXV1. 3

the captiousness and censoriousness of the citizens

(for" in great affairs/' as he says himself/

"it is

difficult to please all "), he made his ownership of a

vessel an excuse for foreign travel, and set sail, after .i^obtaining from the Athenians leave of absence for

ten years. In this time he hoped they would beaccustomed to his laws.

XXVI. In the first place, then, he went to Egypt,^and lived, as he himself says,^

" Where Nile pours forth his floods, near the Canobicshore."

He also spent some time in studies with Psenophisof Heliopolis and Sonchis of Sais, who were verylearned priests. From these, as Plato says,* heheard the story of the lost Atlantis, and tried to

introduce it in a poetical form to the Greeks.^ Nexthe sailed to Cyprus, and was greatly beloved of

Philocyprus, one of the kings of the island. This

prince had, a small city, founded by Demophon, the

son of Theseus, and lying near the river Clarius, in a

position which was strong, but otherwise incom-

modious and sorry. Solon therefore persuaded himto remove the city to the fair plain which lay below

it, and make it more spacious and pleasant. He also

remained and took charge of the new city's con-

solidation, and helped to arrange it in the best

possible manner both for convenience of living andfor safety. The result was that many colonists flocked

to Philocyprus, and he was the envy of the other

kings. He therefore paid Solon the honour of

*Fragment 7 (Bergk).

- Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athena, xi. 1.

^Fragment 28 (Bergk).

*Timaeua, t^. 2.2 Oi.

• Cf. chapters xxxi. 3 ; xxxii. 1 f.

477

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

a7roStSoL'9 Pi-lirelav rrjv ttoKlv koKovfxevrjv irpo-

4 T£pov aii eKeLvov X6\ov<i Trpoaijyopevae. kol

ttL'TO? Se fii/jLvrjrat tov crvvoifciajjuov' irpoaayo-

p€V(Ta<; jap iv rac^; eKeyeiai<; tov îkoKvirpov,

NOi/ Se((pTjo-i)

(TV /ii€v XoXioicTt TToXvv y^povoviv6dh^ dvacrcrcov

T}]vB€ TToXiv vaioi^ KoX yevo<^ v/jbirepov

avrdp ifie ^vv V7)'t 6ofj K\€tvrj<; diro vvjaov

d(TK7jdr] TzefJiTTOL Kv7rpt<; lo(TT6(f)avo<;'

oiKia/jLU> S' eVt TwSe Xapiv koi kvSo<; ottciôi

idOXov Kol voarov TrarpCB^ e? r/fieTeprfv.

XXVIL T171/ Be 7rpo<; Kpoiaov evrevîv avrov

BoKovaiV eviOL tol^ ')(p6voL<; w? ireiT'Xaa/xivrjv

6X67%6ii/. iyo) Be \6jov evBoôv ovrco koL to-

(7ovTov<; jjbdpTvpa^ e')(pvTa, Kaly o p,el^6v eari,

irpeiTovTa tw %6\covo<; rjOei /cat tt)? i/ceivov fie-

ydXo(j)pO(7Virrj<; /cal (To^ta? dîov, ou fioi Bokcj

7rpo^(T€cr0ai ^(poviKolf; tictl \eyo/xevoi<; Kavoaip,

0U9 fivpCoi BiopdovvTe^; d^pi (rrniepov eh ovBev

auToh ofidXoyovfievov BvvavTai /caracrrrjcraL ra?

2 dvTikoyia^;. tov 8' ovv 1^6\(ovd (jâaiv eh ^dpBeif;

BeijdevTC T(p }Lpoia(p irapayevopbevov, iraOelv tl

irapairXTjCTLOv dvBpl ')(êpaaiw KaTiovTi irpSiTov eirl

OakaTTav. eKelvo^ t€ yap opcov dWov ef dWovTTOTapov (p€TO TTjv OdXaaaav elvai, Kal to) 2oXa>/'t

Tyv avXrjv Btarropevo/nevrp Kal ttoXKov^ 6pa)VTL

T(OV ffa(TL\lK(OV /C€K0(7/J.r)pL€V0V<; TToXl^TeXw?, fCtt)

478

SOLON, XXVI. 3-XXV11. 2

naming the new city after him, and called it Soli ;

its name had been Aipeia. Solon himself also makesmention of this consolidation. In his elegies, namely,he addresses Philocyprus, and says

^:—

" Now mayest thou long time be lord and master for

the Solii here,

Dwelling in this city thyself, and thy family after

thee ;

But may I and my swift ship, as we leave this

storied isle.

Be brought upon our way in safety by Cypris of the

violet crown.

Upon this settlement of thine may she bestowfavour and glory ;

And upon me an auspicious return to my father-

land."

XXVII. As for liis interview with Croesus, somethink to prove by chronology that it is fictitious.

But when a story is so famous and so well-attested,

and, what is more to the point, when it comports so

well witli the character of Solon, and is so worthy of

his magnanimity and wisdom, I do not propose to

reject it out of deference to any chronological canons,so called, which thousands are to this day revising,without being able to bring their contradictions into

any general agreement. So then, they say that

Solon, on visiting Sardis at the invitation of Croesus,^had much the same experience as an inland man who

goes down for the first time to the sea. For just as

such a man thinks each successive river that he sees

to be the sea, so Solon, as he passed through the

court and beheld many of the king's retainers in

»Fragment 19 (Beigk).

» Cf. Herodotus, i. 30-33.

479

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(To/5ovVTa<; iv oxây irpoTrofMTTcov koX Bopv(j)6pa)v,

e/caaTO<; iBoKei Kpolcro^ elvat, fiexpi' TTyoo? avrbv

^X^V* "^^^ oaov iv Xidotf;, iv â(j)aL^ ia6P)T0(;, iv

T€%iât9 %/5fo-o0 irepl Koafiov iKirpeTrh eêi'V rj

irepiTTov Tj ^rjXoorbv iBoKCi irepiKeipevov, q)<; Brj

deafxa crepLVoTaTOv 6(f>6eiri kol TrotKiXdoraTov*

3 iirel S* 6 "ZoXcov avTLKpv^ Karaaraf; ovr eiraOev

ovhev ovr etTre ttô? rrjv oyjnv mv 6 Kpot(To(; irpoa-

eSofcrjaev, aWa koX hrjko^ ^v to?? ev (j)povov(Tt

T^9 aireLpOKa\ia tou9 re drjaavpoix; dvolât tS)v

;^/377yLtaTCt)i/,KOI TTjv oXkijv djovTa'} iirtBelâc

pLijBev BeopLev(p /caraaKevrjv Kal iroXvreXeiav.

TjpKei yap auro? iv kavrS) rod rpoTTov Karav6rj(7iv

Trapacrxelv. a)? 3* ovv av6i<; r/xOrj y€yovQ)<; airdv-

T(OV 66aTrj<^y 7JpC0T7J(T6V UVTOV 6 Kpo2(TO<^ €L TIVU

4 olBev drdpcoTTcov avrov pbafcapicorepov. aTro^rjva-

pbivou Be Tov 2oXct)i/o9 on olBe TeXXov avrov ttoXl-

rrjVy Kal BteêXdovro^ on ;^/07;o-to9 dvi^p 6 TeXko^

y€v6p€V0<; Kal 7ralBa<^ evBoKipov^ KaraXLircov Kal

0LOV ovB€v6<; ivBed rojv dvayKaicov, ireXevrrfaev

ivBoôD^ dpL(Trevaa Kpoicrcp Kal dypocKo^,el pLT) 7r/?09 apyvpiov iroXv pLtjBe xpô-ôv rrjf; evBai-

piovia<i TToielraL rrjv dvap.erpr](TLV, dXXa BrjpLO-

riKov Kal IBtcorov ffiov Kal Odvarov dvOpcorrov

pidXXov fj ro(Tavr7]v dyaTrwrj BvvapLiv Kal dpx^v.5 ov pLi]V dXXd TrdXcv rjpcorrjaev avrov el puerdTeXXov dXXov eyvcoxev dvOpcoircDV evBatpLOveare-

pov. irdXiv Be rov ôXcovo^; elirovroî elBevai

KXeofiiv Kal Îrcova, <l)iXaBeX(f)Ov<; kol (fnXofi^-

480

SOLON, XXVII. 2^5

costly apparel and moving proudly amid a throngof couriers and armed guards, thought each in turn

to be Croesus, until he was brought to the king him-

self, who was decked out with everjrthing in the

way of precious stones, dyed raiment, and wroughtgold that men deem remarkable, or extravagant, or

enviable, in order that he might present a most

august and gorgeous spectacle. But when Solon, in

tliis presence, neither showed any astonishment at

what he saw, nor made any such comments upon it

as Croesus had expected, but actually made it clear

to all discerning eyes that he despised such vulgarityand pettiness, the king ordered his treasure chambersto be thrown open for the guest, and that he shouldbe led about to behold the rest of his sumptuousequipments. Of this there was no need, for the manhimself sufficed to give Solon an understanding of

his character. However, when Solon had seen every-

thing and had been conducted back again, Croesusasked him if he had ever known a happier man thanhe. Solon said he had, and that the man was Tellus, a

fellow-citizen of his own ; Tellus, he went on to say,(had proved himself an honest man, had left reputable!sons behind him, and had closed a life which knew 1

no serious want with a glorious display of valour inj

behalf of his country. Croesus at once judged Solon|

to be a strange and uncouth fellow, since he did notmake an abundance of gold and silver his measure of

happiness, but admired the life and death of an

ordinary private man more than all this display of

power and sovereignty. Notwithstanding, he askedhim again whether, next to Tellus, he knew anyother man more fortunate than he. Again Solon

Ud he did, nammg Cleobis and BitOj men surpass-

48 1

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ropa<; Biacpepovrco*; dvBpa<;, ot rrjv firjrepa rwv

ffocov ^paSvvovTcov v7roBvvT€<; avrol tw ^vyo) rrj^ 94

dpid^rj<; eKopîaav 7Tpb<; to t% "H/sa? lepov evBac-

poviô/jL6vr]v viTo T(ov TTokiTcop KoX 'xcLipovcraVy clra

0vaavT€<; koI iTLovre^ ov/c ert pLcd^ rjp.epav dvearrj-

aav, dWd TeOvrjKOTe^; dvaXyrj koX akvirov eirl

6 Bo^rj Toaavrrj ddvarov axfyOrjo-av,"'H/xa9 ê,"

eliT6v ijBr) 7rpo<; 6pyr)v 6 }^poL(TO<;, "et? ovBeva

Tidr]<; evBaifiovcov dpiOpibv dvdpcairwv ;

*'

Kal 6

XoXcOV OVT€ KO\a/C€VeiV ÔV\6/JL€VOia<; rivo^ ddapaov<;, d)<; eoiKe,

Kal Brj/jLOTiKTJf;, ov jSacnXLKrj^; ovBe XapL7rpd<i, viro

perptorrjrof; rjplv pberedTiv, rj rv^^''^ opoica irav-

ToBairal^ Xpcopêvov del rov /Slop, ovk id roU

Trapovaiv d<ya9ol<i pkya <^povtlv, ovBe OavpbdêLv

dvBpo^ evTVX^Lav pLeraôXr]^ ^(^pGvov eôvaav.7 €7161,(7L <ydp eKaajw ttolkIXov ef dBrjXov to p,iXXov'

ft) S* €t9 TeXo? Baipcdv eOero ttjv evirpa^Cav,

TovTOV evBaipova voplôpêv. 6 Be ^covro^ en koI

KLvBvvevovTO<; iv rw /Slq) p,aKapLo-/i6<i, atairep

dycoviô/jiipov KrjpvypLa Kal crrecpavo^;, iarlv

d,S€âio<? Kal ciKvpo^r ravr elircov o "ôXav

dirijXXdrTeTO Xvinjcra^; fiev, ov vouOertjcraf; Be

TOP KpOLCTOV,

XXVIII. 'O Be XoyoTToiof; AXaconro^;, eTvy)(jav€

482

SOLON, xxvii. 5-XXV111. I

ing all others in brotherly love and in dutiful

affection towards their mother ;for once, he said,

when the car in which she was riding was delayed

by the oxen, they took the yoke upon their ownshoulders and brought their mother to the temple of

Hera, where her countrymen called her a happywoman and her heart was rejoiced ; then, after

sacrifice and feasting, they laid themselves to rest,

and never rose again, but were found to have died a

painless and tranquil death with so great honourfresh upon them. " What !

"said Croesus, who by

this time was angered, "dost thou not count us

among happy men at all ?" Then Solon, who was

unwilling to Hatter him and did not wish to exasperatehim further, said :

" O king of Lydia, as the Deity has

given us Greeks all other blessings in moderation, so

our moderation gives us a kind of wisdom which is

timid, in all likelihood, and fit for common people,not one which is kingly and splendid. This wisdom,such as it is, observing that human life is ever

subject to all sorts of vicissitudes, forbids us to be

puffed up by the o;ood things we have, or to admirea man's felicity while there is still time for it to

change. For the future which is advancing uponevery one is varied and uncertain, but when the Deitybestows prosperity on a man up to the end, that

man we consider happy ; to pronounce any one happy,however, while he is still living and running therisks of life, is like proclaiming an athlete victorious

and crowning him while he is still contending for

the prize ; the verdict is insecure and without

authority." When he had said this, Solon departed,

leaving Croesus vexed, but none the wiser for it.

XXV^III. Now it so happened that Aesop, the

483

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ykp eU ^dpBei<; /ACTaTre/iTTTO? 76701/0)9 vtto Kpoi-(TOV KOl TlfjiCO/jL€VO<i, '^Xîadrj Tft) XoXcOVl fjLTjBefMldfi

TvxovTi (ptXavdpcoTrla^;' koI itporpeirwv ahiov,

r]K,i<Jia rj 609 i]Bt,(TTa ofMiXelv.^^ Koi 6 XoXcov,

Ma At , etTTev, aW 0)9 rj/ciara 7) ot)9 apicna.2 Tore /êi/ ouv d Kpolcro^ ovro) toO XdXft)W9

KaT€(j)p6v7]a€V' eTrel Be K.vpa) a-vfiâXoyv eKpaTrjOr]

H'^XV* ^^'' '^V^ TToXiv aTTcoXeae, koi ôjv dXov<;

avTO<i ep^We KaTairLpirpaaOai, Koi y6V0fi€vr}<;

7rvpa<; dpe^L/BdcrOrj SeBepevofi dewpêvcov HepaSivdirdvTwv KoX Kvpov 7rap6vTO<;, e<^' oaov i^LKvelrofcal BvvaTO<; tjv ry (fxovfj (pOey^dpevof; dveôrjcre

T/}t9, "*n SdXft)!^." Oavpdaa^; ovv 6 }^vpo<i eTrepyjre

T0U9 €p7](Top6VOV<; 0(7Tf9 dvOp(t}7rcov rj Oecov ovro^

eariv 6 ^6\(ov, ov ev rvxai'^^

diropoc^; p,6vov3 dvaKaXelrai. koX 6 Kpolao^ ovBev diroKpvy^d-

p€vo^ elirev OTt " Tayv Trap* 'ÊWrja-i, aoôiiv ehOUT09 y}v 6 dvTjp, ov iyo) pereTrepyjrdprjp ovk

dKOvaai ri fiovKopêvo^ ovSe puiOelv a)v ivSet)^

rip7)v, dW* ct)9 Bi] p,OL 66aT7)(; yivoiro koX pudprv^dirioL TTfî 6vBaLpovLa<; €KeLvr)<;, rjv dirojSaXelv dpap,€Lôv rjv KaKov r\ Xaêlv d<ya96v, Xoyo^ yap rfv

Kal Boâ rdyadov 7rapou(Tr)<;' at peraôXal Be pot

avTTi^ eU Trddrj Beivd koI <Tup,(f)Opd<; dvTjKearov^;

4 epyfp reXevrcoai, Kal ravr eKeivo^ 6 dvrjp eV rojv

Tore rd vvv reKpaipopevo^, exeXeve to TeXo9 tov

piov (TKOirelv koI prj dpaavvopevov dêffaloi^;

v7rovoiai<i v^pCêiv.** eVet Be tovt dvrjvex^V 7'"/oo9

TGV Kvpov, are Brj ao^(iirepo<; o)v rov Kpotaov Kal^ iu rvxais Coraes, Cobet, and S : rvxats-

484

SOLON, xxviii. 1-4

writer of fables, was in Sardis, having been siimmon<thither by Croesus, and receiving much honour at his

hands. He was distressed that Solon met with no

kindly treatment, and said to him by way of advice :

" O Solon, our converse with kings should be either

as rare, or as pleasing as is possible.""No, indeed !

"

said Solon," but either as rare or as beneficial as is

possible."At this time, then, Croesus held Solon in a contempt

like this ; but afterwards he encountered Cyrus, wasdefeated in battle, lost his city, was taken alive andcondemned to be burnt ; and then, as he lay bound

upon the pyre in the sight of all the Persians and of

Cyrus himself, with all the reach and power of whichhis voice was capable, he called out thrice '}

" OSolon !

"Cyrus, then, astonished at this, sent men to

ask him what man or god this Solon was on whomalone he called in his extremity. And Croesus, without

any concealment, said :" This man was one of the

sages of Greece, and I sent for him, not with anydesire to hear or learn the things of which I stood in

need, but in order that he might behold, and, whenhe left me, bear testimony to the happiness I then

enjoyed, the loss of which I now see to be a greaterevil than its possession was a good. For when it was

mine, the good I derived from it was matter of reporand men's opinion, but its departure from me issues

in terrible sufferings and irreparable calamities whichare real. And that man, conjecturing this future fromwhat he then saw, bade me look to the end of mylife, and not let insecure conjectures embolden me to

be proud and insolent." When this was reported to

Cyrus, since he was a wiser man than Croesus, and» Cf. Herodotus, i. 86.

485

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tov \6yov Tov ^6XcSvo<; l(T')(ypov ev rw Trafjahely-

fiart /SXeTTCov, ov fiovov acprj/ce rov Kpolaov, (iWaKoi TLjjLWV i<j)*

oaov €^7) SceriXeae' koI Boâv

eax^v o X6\(ov evl Xoyo) tov fiep o-cocra?, rov Be

TTaiBev(Ta<; tmv (BaatXewv.

XXIX. Oi ê ev aarei irakiv earaaiaôv diro-

Br]/JL0VVT0<; rov X6Xa)vo<;' koX irpoeKnriKei tmv fiev

UeBiiayv AvKovpyo<;, twv Be UapdXcov MeyaKXr/^;6 ÂXKjjLaicovo'i, Yietatcnparo<; Be rcov Aia/cpioyVy ev

oh rjv 6 6r]TtK0<i o^Xo9 koI p^dXiara toIs ttXov-

<7tot9 d'xdopêvo^' <w(7T€ 'XprjaOac fjicv en roh

vopôi^ TTjv ttoXlv, rjBif]Be irpdypbara vecorepa irpoa-

BoKCLV /cal TToOelv airavra'^ erepav fcardaraa-iv,

ovK Xaov eXTTiôvTa^t dXXa rrXeov eêtv ev rfj

pLeraôXfi kclI Kpanja-etv iravrdiraai rcov Biacpepo-

pîvcov. ovTco Be tcoi^ 7rpayp,dTa)v exovTcjv 6 ôXcov

irapayevopevofi eh ra? 'A07]va<;, alBS) puev elê koI

ripL'qv irapa iraaiv, ev Be kolvw Xeyeiv fcal irpda-

(T€LV OpLolcO^ OVK CT ^V BvvaTO. koX yap aipvXov tl kol irpocT-

îXe? el^^v ev tw BiaXeyeaOai., kol ôr)6r]TLKO^

r/v Toh TTevrjai kol Ttpo^ Ta? e^^/ja? eirieLKrj^; /cat

pêrpio^. a Be (pvcrei, p^rj irpoa-rjv avrw, koI Tavra

p,t.pLOvp€Vo<; eVtcTTeuero puaXXov t6)V exovrayv, «W9

evXafir)^ kol Ko<jp.LO<i dvrjp kol pdXiara Brj to X(tov

dyaTTGdVt KoX Bva)(epaiv(Dv ev t*9 to, TrapovTa

486

SOLONj XXVIII. 4-XX1X. 3

saw the word of Solon confirmed in the examplebefore him, he not only released Croesus, but actuallyheld him in honour as long as he lived. And thus

Solon had the reputation of saving one king and

instructing another by means of a single saying.XXIX. But the people of Athens were again

divided into factions while Solon was away. ThePlain-men M'ere headed by Lycurgus ; the Shore-men

by Megacles the son of Alcmaeon, and the Hill-men

by Peisistratus.^ Among the last was the multitude of

Thetes, who were the bitter enemies of the rich. Asa consequence, though the city still observed the

new laws, yet all were already expecting a revolution

and desirous of a different form of government, not in

hopes of an equality, but each party thinking to bebettered by the change, and to get the entire

mastery of its opponents. Such was the state of

affairs when Solon returned to Athens. He wasrevered and honoured by all, but owing to his yearshe no longer had the strength or the ardour to speakand act in public as before. He did, however, confer

privately with the chiefs of the opposing factions,

endeavouring to reconcile and harmonize them, andPeisistratus seemed to pay him more heed than the

others. For Peisistratus had an insinuating and agree-able quality in his address, he was ready to help the

poor, and was reasonable and moderate in his enmities.

Even those virtues which nature had denied himwere imitated by him so successfully that he won moreconfidence than those who actually possessed them.He was thought to be a cautious and order-lovingman, one that prized equality above all things, andwould take it ill if any one disturbed the existing

* Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athens, xiii. 4.

487

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kivolrj Ka\ vecorepcov opeyotro' tovtol<; yap i^rj-

Trdra tou? ttoXXoi^. 6 Be XoXcov ra^v to r}0o<;

icpcopao-eu avTOV koX Tr)v iiriôvXrjv 7r/3WT09

eyKaretBep' ov firjv ifiiarjaev, aXV eireipaTO

irpavveiv koX vovOeretv, fcal tt/jo? avrbv eXeye xal

7r/909 €T€pOV<: (W9 cl' Tt9 iîXoi TO îkoTTpCOTOV avTOv

T^9 •\|rf^?}9Kol TTfv iTTtOvfjiLav IdaatTO T?79 TVpav-

viho<;, ovK eaTiv aX\o<; evcpveaTepo^; 7r/309 dperrjvovSe êXricov vroXtT*;?.

4 Âpxofi6i>cov Be Twv Trepl Sea-irtv ^]Br} Tr)V

TpaycpBiav /civetv, koX Blcl ttjv KaivoTrjra tou9

TToXXovî ayovTO^ tov Trpdy/jiarof;, oinro) S' et9

dfiLXXav ivaycoviov i^r)yfjL€POV, (pucrec ^LXr)K00<; a>v

Kol <j)LXofjLaOr)<; 6 ôXcav, en jxaXXov iv yqpa

aôXfj fcal iraiBia kol vrj Aia iroToa fcal /jlov<tlk7J

TrapaTrifiTTCov eavTov, iOedcraTO tov Siairiv avTov

viroKpivof-ievov, axnrep eOa rjv toI<; iraXaioif;.

5 fieTk Be ttjv Oeav irpocrayopevGa^ avTov 7]p6iTr)Gev

el TOcrovTcov ivavriov ovfc ala')(vveTaL TTjXtKavTa

'\lrevB6/jL6Vo<;. <^y]<javTO^ Be tov &ea-7riBo<; p.r) BeLVov

elvai, TO jxeTCL iraiBia^ 'Keyeiv to, Toiavra kol

irpdaaeiv, a(f)6Bpa tjj âKTrjpia t^jv yfjv 6 ^6X(ov

Trardâfi'**

Ta^v jJievTOV tt^v iraiBcdv,^' ^cfyr),

" Tav-

TTjv eiraivovvTe^; ovtco koI Tt/iwi'T€9 evpijaofiep ev

T0fc9 (TvpLôXaioi^^*XXX. 'Evrel Be KaTarpayaa^; avT6<i eavTOV 6

Tlei(TL<TTpaTo<; rJKev et9 dyopdv eirl ^€ir/ov<; KOfxi-

fo/xei^09, KoX irapco^vve tov Brj/j,ov &)9 Bia ttjv

TToXiTelav VTTO Tcbv e)(jdp(av eTnêôvXevjievo^t

488

SOLON, XXIX. 3-xxx. i

order and attempted a change. On these points,

indeed, he completely deceived most people. ButSolon quickly detected his real character, and wasthe first to perceive his secret designs. He did not,

however, treat him as an enemy, but tried to soften

and mould him by his instructions. He actually said

to him and to others that if the desire for pre-eminence could but be banished from his soul, andhis eager passion for the tyranny be cured, no other

man would be more naturally disposed to virtue, or a

better citizen.

Thespis was now beginning to develop tragedy, \

and the attempt attracted most people because of its )^<^^^novelty, although it was not yet made a matter of

competitive contest. Solon, therefore, who was

naturally fond of hearing and learning anything new,and who in his old age more than ever before in-

dulged himself in leisurely amusement, yes, and in

wine and song, went to see Thespis act in his ownplay, as the custom of the ancient poets was. Afterthe spectacle, he accosted Thespis, and asked him if

he was not ashamed to tell such lies in the presenceof so many people. Thespis answered that therewas no harm in talking and acting that way in play,

whereupon Solon smote the ground sharply with his

staff and said :*'Soon, however, if we give play of

this sort so much praise and honour, we shall find it

in our solemn contracts."

XXX. Now when Peisistratus, after inflicting a

wound upon himself,^ came into the market-placerising in a chariot, and tried to exasperate the

populace with the charge that his enemies had

plotted against his life on account of his political* Cf. Herodotus, i. 59; Aristotle, Co/wi. of Athens^ xiv. 1.

489

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kol TToXXoy? elêv ayavatcrovvra^ fcal ySocoz^ra?,

TTpoa-eXOcDV 6771)9 ôXrov kol irapaard^," Ov

/caX,&)9," elirev,"

&> Trat 'lirTroKparov;, viroKpivr)rbv Oixr]pLK0v ÔSvaaea' ravra yap ttoicl^ rov<;

TToXtVa? 7rapafcpov6/jL6vo<; oh eKelvo^ tou? iroXe-

2 jxiov^ i^7]7rdTr]a€v, abKiad/Jievof; eavrov.^^ eK tovtovTO fiev 7rXrj6o<; rjv eToifiov VTrepfzaêlv rod Uec-

acarpdrov, kol crwtjXOev et? iKKXrjaiav 6 Brj/jL0<i.

*Ap[(TTcovo<; Se <ypd'\lravTO<; otto)? So6coai, irevrrfKOVTa

Kopvi'TjcpopOL T(p tleta-iaTpdrcp (f)v\afcr} rov aco-

fiaro^, dvrelirev 6 ôXcov civaaTa^ koI iroWa

hie^rfKOev ofioia tovtol^ ol<; Bta tcov Troiijfidrwv

yeypacpev

Et? yap yXooaaav opdre Kal 6t? eirTj alfivXov

dvBp6<i.

vfJLOdv 8' eh fiev eKaaro^ dXodirefco^ t%i^€o-t âlveiy

avjjuTraaLV S* vfilv ')(avvo<; evearc voo^,

3 opojv Be T0U9 fi€v 7r€vrjTa<; (opjurjfiivov^ ^(âpLêadairu> YleKncTTpdrw Kal Oopvôvina^;, rov<; Be ttXov-

aiov^ diroBiBpaaKOVTaî Kal dTroBeiXicovra^;, dir-

ifkdev elircbv otl tmv fiev eVrt (TO(f)(i)T€po<;, rwv Be

dvBpeiorepo^;' aocfyooTepo^ fxev rcov /xrj avvievrcov ro

Trparro/J-evov, dvBpei6T£po<; Be rcov avvtevrcov fiev,

evavTLovadaL Be tt} rvpavvlBi (fioôvpLevwy. ro Be

ylrrj(f>ia/xa KVpayaa^; 6 Bij/iof; ovBe irepl tov 7rXyj0ovovTa Kal

Gwdyovra <âvep(fi^ rrrepiewpa, fiexpi' '^^v aKpo-iroXiv Kareaê.

4 Vevop.evov Be tovtov Kal t^? iroXecoî avvra-

490

SOLON, XXX. 1-4

opinions, and many of them greeted the charge with

angry cries, Solon drew near and accosted him,

saying: "O son of Hippocrates, thou art playingthe Homeric Odysseus badly; for when he dis-

figured himself it was to deceive his enemies,^but thou doest it to mislead thy fellow-citizens."

After this the multitude was ready to fight for

Peisistratus, and a general assembly of the peoplewas held. Here Ariston made a motion that Peisi-

stratus be allowed a body-guard of fifty club-bearers,but Solon formally opposed it, and said many thingswhich were like what he has written in his poems :

—" Ye have regard indeed to the speech and words of

a wily man.Yet every one of you walks with the steps of a fox,

And in you all dwells an empty mind." ^

But when he saw that the poor were tumultuouslybent on gratifying Peisistratus, while the rich were

fearfully slinking away from any conflict with him,he left the assembly, saying that he was wiser thanthe one party, and braver than the other ; wiser

than those who did not understand what was beingdone, and braver than those who, though theyunderstood it, were nevertheless afraid to oppose the

tyranny.^ So the people passed the decree, and thenheld Peisistratus to no strict account of the numberof his club-bearers, but suffered him to keep andlead about in public as many as he wished, until at

last he seized the acropolis.When this had been done, and the city was in an

^Odyssey, iv. 244-264.

^Fragment 11 (Bergk), verses 7, 5, and 6. Plutarch has

changed the order ; Bekker and Cobet restore it.

^-^ Cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athena, xiv. 2.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

paxOeia-'qt;^ 6 fih^ Meâ/cX^? evdv'i e(f)vye fderh

r&v aXkcov Â\Kfj,aLCi)VcBu}V, 6 Be ^6\(ov tjBtj fiev 96

^v acpoBpa yipcov koX tou? por]dovvTa^ ovk eiyev^

6fJL(Mi<;Bk TTporjXdev €t9 ayopav koI BieXexOv tt/jo?

Toi'9 TToXtra?, ra fiev KaKL^cov rrjv affovXiav av-

T(ov Kol jjuaXaKLav, to. Be irapo^vvwv ert /cat

5 irapaKaXcov fir) irpoecrdai rrjv ekevOepiav ore kol

ro fjLvrjfiovevopevov elireVy «<? Trpcorjv /iiev ^v ev-

papearepov avroh to KcoXvaai ryv rvpavviBa

avvLaTa/JLevrjv, vvv Be fiecôv iaTi kol Xapîrporepov

eKKo^JraL kol aveXelv avveaTOiaav tjBtj kol 7r€(f)V'

Kvlav. ovBevof; Be irpoae'ôvTO^; avrw Bia rbv

ôffov CLTTTJXOev eZ? ttjv ol/ciav rrjv eavrov, koI

Xaôbv TO, oirXa kol irpo t(ov OvpSiv Oepêvo^ eh

TOP arevcoTToVy"'Epôl pêvT elirev,

"co? Bwarov

G rjv PeôTjO-qTai rjj iraTpiBi kol to?? vopoi^;.^* koI

TO Xoinrov 'âvîav ^ye, koX tcov (ftlXcov (j)evyeiv

wapaivovvTcov ov '7Tpoael)(ev, aXXa TroirjixaTa ypd-

(f)(ov dyveiBiê to2<;^

A6r]vaiOL<;'

Ei Be ireTTOvOaTe Xvypa Bi vpereprjv KaKorrjra,

p,j} Ti 6eoh TovTcov pirjVLV €7ra/ii(f>epeT€.

avTol yap tovtov^: rjv^rjaaTe pvpuTa B6vTe<;,

Kol Bia TavTa Kaxrjv ecrêre BovXoctvvt^v,

XXXI. 'EttI TovTOi<; Be iro'KKSiV vovOeTovvro-'v

avTov 0D<i a-TTodavovpievov viro tov Tvpdpvov, xal

492

SOLON, XXX. 4-XXX1. I

uproar, Megacles^straightway fled, with the rest of

the Alcmaeonidae. But Solon, although he was nowa very old man, and had none to support him, wentnevertheless into the market-place and reasoned

with the citizens, partly blaming their folly and

weakness, and partly encouraging them still and

exhorting them not to abandon their liberty. Thenit was, too, that he uttered the famous saying, that

earlier it had been easier for them to hinder the

tyranny, while it was in preparation ; but now it wasa greater and more glorious task to uproot and

destroy it when it had been already planted and was

grown. No one had the courage to side with him,

however, and so he retired to his own house, tookhis arms, and placed them in the street in front of

his door, saying :" I have done all I can to help my

country and its laws." ^ From that time on he lived|

in quiet retirement, and when his friends urged him i

to fly, he paid no heed to them, but kept on writing \

poems, in which he heaped reproaches on the Athe-nians :

—'^ If now ye suffer grievously through cowardice all

your own.Cherish no wrath against the gods for this.

For ye yourselves increased the usurper's power bygiving him a guard.

And therefore are ye now in base subjection.'*'

XXXI. In view of this, many warned him that the

tyrant would put him to death, and asked him on^ Grandson of the Megacles who brought the taint of

pollution upon the family (chapter xii. 1-3). He had beenallowed to return from banishment.

* It was for others now to do the same. Cf. Aristotle, Coiist.

0/ Athens, xiv. 2. *Fragment 11 (Bergk), verses 1-4.

VOL. I. „ 493

^'

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TTwdavofiivcov tivi iricrTevcov outo)? aTrovoelrai," Tw yijpai'^ elirev. ov fxr^v aW* 6 Yiei(TlGTpaTO<;

iyKpaTTjs fy6v6fievo<i tcop Trpay/jLaTcov ovTa)<i e'fe-

Oepdirevae top XoXcova, tc/jlcop kol (j)i\o(f)povov-

lievo^ Kol /JLeTairefiTrofjievo^, ware /cal crvfiôuXov

elvai kal ttoWo, t&v irpaaaofxevayv iiraLvelv.

KoX yap i(j)vXuTTe rovg irXelorTov^ v6fjiov<; rod

X6\(i)vo<;, ifi/jLevcov tt/ocoto? avTo<i koI tov<; <j)iXovfi

2 avayKciôjV' 09 ye koI cjiovov TrpoaKXrjOel^: eh

Apeiov Trdyov, rjhr] rvpavvoyv, aTr^vrrjae KOcrjii(o<i

diroXoyrjaojievo';, 6 Se Kari]yopo<i ou^ v7r7]Kovae-

fcal v6fJL0V<; avro^ erepof? eypaxfrevy oyv iari /cal

6 Toif<; 7rr)p(o06VTa<: iv iroXefMO) BrjfjLoaia rpicjyeaOai

KeXevcDV. rovro Bei^r^crtv 'Hâ/cXetS7?9 ical irpo-

Tepov eTTL ©epcTLTTTrq) 7r7]pco6evTL rod %6Xcovo<i

'\jr7]î(TaiJ,evov fiifiijaaadat rov Tieiaiarparov. co?

he Se6(ppaaro<; laropr^Ke, /cal rov rrj<; dpyia^

vo/jlov ov '^.oXcov eOrjKeVy dXXa Tieiaiarparo^,

CO rTjv re %ft)yoai/ evepyorepav Kal rrjv iroXtv

rjpefjLaiorepav eiroirja-ev.

3 'O Se XoXwv dy^rdixevo^ /jieydXrj<; rr]<; irepl

rov^

hrXavrL/cov \6yov fj jjLvdov 7rpay/jLareid<;,

ov hirj/covare rwv irepl ^d'iv Xoyicov irpoa-qKovra

ro2<; ^K6rjvaioi<i, eê/cafiev, ov Bi d(T)(ôXLav, <W9

TlXdrcov^rjaiv, dXXd fidXXov viro 777/00)9, <f)ol3^]-

6el<; ro /iieyeOo^ t^9 ypacfirj^, iirel a)ôXrj<i

494

SOLON, XXXI. 1-3

what he relied that he was so lost to all sense,

to which he answered, "My old age." However,when Peisistratus had become master of the situation,

he paid such court to Solon by honouring him,

showing him kindness, and inviting him to his palace,

that Solon actually became his counsellorand approvedof many of his acts. For he retained most of Solon's

laws, observing them first himself, and compellinghis friends to do so. For instance, he was summonedbefore the Areiopagus on a charge of murder, whenhe was already tyrant, and presented himself there

to make his defence in due form, but his accuser did

not put in an appearance. He also made other

laws himself, one of which provides that those whoare maimed in war shall be maintained at the

public charge. But Heracleides says that evenbefore that Solon had caused a decree to be passedto this effect in the case of Thersippus, who hadbeen so maimed, and that Peisistratus Avas followinghis example. Moreover, Theophrastus writes that ,

the law against idleness, in consequence of whichthe country became more productive and the citymore tranquil, was not made by Solon, but by Peisis-

tratus.

Now Solon, after beginning his great work on the, v\j^/^^

story or fable of the lost Atlantis, which, as he had '^^

heard from the learned men of Sais,^ particularlyconcerned the Athenians, abandoned it, not for

lack of leisure, as Plato says, but rather because of

his old age, fearing the magnitude of the task. For

* Cf. chapter xxvi. 1. There is no trace of any such workof Solon's, and the attribution of it to him is probably a playof Plato's fancy.

495 ,

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

7€ irepiovalav avrov fir^vvovauv at roiavTai

(j>wvai'

TrjpdaKcj S* alel iroWa SiBaaKOfiepo^*

"Epya Be Kv7rpoyevov<$ vvv pLoi <f>iKa koI Alo-

vvaov

/cat M.ov(T60)V, a TLOrja avSpdaiv €V(j)po(7vva<i.

XXXII. *fl9 Be %ft)/3a9 Ka\i]<; eBacpo^; 6 UXaTCDV

eprjfMov, avTa> Be tto)? fcarct avyyiveiav TrpoarJKOVt

iêpydcraaOaL koI BcaKoap^rjaat (ptXoTifiovfievo^

Trjv ÂrXavTi/crjv viroOeaiv, irpoOvpa jxev fieydXafcal 7r€/)t/5o\ov9 Kal av\a<i ry dpxjj TrepiedrjKev,

Ota X0709 ovBel^; a\Xo9 €(T)(ev ovBe fjLvOo<; ovBe

2 7roL7]arc^t oyjre Bk dp^d/x6vo<; irpoKareXvae rov

epyov TOP filov, 6a(p fiaXKov ev^paivei ra ye-

ypapLpîva, Toaovrcp fidWov Tot9 diroXetcpOetcnv

dvidaa<i, tt)9 yap rj 7roXt9 tojv *A67jvaicov to

*0\vjinri€ioVf ovTco<i rj VLkaTcovoî aoKpla top^

ArrXaPTLKov ip 7roXXoL<i KaXol^ puopop epyop aTe'

X69 e(T')(Y]K6P,

3 *E7re/3ta)(7e 5' ovp 6 SoXwz^ dpâfiepov tov

UetaiaTpuTov Tvpavpelp, (09 fiep 'HpaKXetBrjf} 6

TLoPTC/cb'; laTopei, crv^pop ')(p6poPy ct)9 Be âvlaô Epeaio^, iXaTTOpa Bvolp ctcjp, iirl ILco/jllov 97

pêp yap rjpâTO TVpavpelp TLeialaTpaTo^t e</)'

HyeaTpaTOV Be XoXiopd j>rjaLP 6 âpla^ diro'

496

SOLON, XXXI. 3-XXX11. 3

that he had abundant leisure, such verses as these

testify :—

" But I grow old ever learning many things ;

"^

and again,

" But now the works of the Cyprus-born goddess are

dear to my soul.

Of Dionysus, too, and the Muses, which impartdelights to men." ^

XXXII. Plato, ambitious to elaborate and adornthe subject of the lost Atlantis, as if it were the soil

of a fair estate unoccupied, but appropriately his byvirtue of some kinship with Solon,^ began the work

by laying out great porches, enclosures, and court-

yards, such as no story, tale, or poesy ever hadbefore. But he was late in beginning, and endedhis life before his work.* Therefore the greaterour delight in what he actually wrote, the greateris our distress in view of what he left undone.For as the Olympieium in the city of Athens, so thetale of the lost Atlantis in the wisdom of Plato is

the only one among many beautiful works to remainunfinished.

Well, then, Solon lived on after Peisistratus hadmade himself tyrant, as Heracleides Ponticus states,a long time ; but as Phanias of Eresos says, less thantwo years. For it was in the archonship of Comeas ^

that Peisistratus began his tyranny, and Phanias saysthat Solon died in the archonship of Hegestratus,

» Cf. chapter ii. 2. 2Fragment 26 (Bergk).

• Plato mentions the relationship of Critias, his maternal

uncle, with Solon {Charmidea, p. 155 a).* Plato's Critias is a splendid fragment.

^ 561-60 B.C.

497

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Oavetv Tov fxerh Kco/juCav ap^avro^, tj Se hia-

airopa KaTaKav6evT0<; avrov rijf; Ti<f)paov,

498

SOLON, XXXII. 4

the successor of Corneas. The story that his ^^body was burned and his ashes scattered on the

island of Salamis is strange enough to be altogetherincredible and fabulous, and yet it is given bynoteworthy authors, and even by Aristotle the

philosopher.

499

PUBLICOLA

nonATKOAAS

I. ToiovTM St] yevofxevcp rm ^6Xq)vl tov HottKl-

KoXav Trapa/SdWofiev, w tovto fxev varepov 6

'Fco/juaicov 8^/iO? iêvpev cttIrtfjbf} rovvojaa, irpo

TOV he YioTrXioîOvaWepiO'^ iKa\eLTO,OvaWepiovSoKcov a7r6yovo<i elvac tmv nraXatcov avSpb<; alrieo-

rdrov yevofxevov 'Pco/jUiiov<; koI â/Sivov^; ck

iroXefjLLCov eva yeveaOat Srjfiov 6 yap fidXicTTa

T0U9 Paaikei^ eU ravro ireiaa^ avvekOelv kcli

2 SiaWdâ^ iKelv6<; iart. rovrw Srj /card yevo<;

TTpocFrjKWV 6 OvaWepLO^, &>? (paai, âcnXevofievTjfi

fiev en rr)^ *F(OfjLr}<; i7rtcf>av7}<; rjv 8id Xoyov kclI

ttXovtov, a)v rS fiev 6p6(b(: koX fierd irappTjcriaf;

del 'X,pd)iiievo<: virep rcov BiKaucov, dcj)^ ov Be Tol<i

Beopêvoi^ iXevOepLco'^ Koi (fiiXavOpcoTrco^; iirapKîv,

BrjXo<; rjv evOv^, el ykvoiro B'qp.OKparla, nrpoa-revcroav.

3 'E-TTet Be TapKvviov 'Zovirep/Sov ovre XajSovra

TTjV dp')(r]v KaX(a<;, aX\* dvoavco^ koi irapavop.w'^yovre '^poofjLevov avry âaiXiKcoî, cOOC v/SpiôvraKol Tvpavvovvra, fxiacav 6 Brj/nof; koX âpwofxevo'^,

dp'XTjv diToardcTecof; eXaê to AovfcprjTLa^ 7ra^09

avTTjv iirl tw ^Laa-Orjvat Biepyaa-a/xevrjf}, koX

AevKio<; ^povros dirToixevoî ro)v TrpayfiuTCOv

502

PUBLICOLA

I. Such was Solon, and with him we comparePublicola, to whom the Roman people gave this

surname later as a mark of honour. Before that hewas called Publius Valerius, and was reputed to be a

decendant of that ancient Valerius who was mostinstrumental in making the Romans and the Sabines

one people instead of enemies ; for it was he morethan anyone else that persuaded their kings to come

together, and settled their differences. Such beinghis lineage, Valerius, as we are told, while Rome wasstill a kingdom, was conspicuous for his eloquenceand wealth, always employing the one with integrityand boldness in the service of justice, while with the

other he gave liberal and kindly aid to the poor and

needy. It was therefore clear that, should Romebecome a democracy, he would at once be one of its

foremost men.Now Tarquinius Superbus had not acquired his

power honourably, but by the violation of divine andhuman laws ; nor did he exercise it in kinglyfashion, but after the manner of an insolent and

haughty tyrant. The people therefore hated him,resented his oppressions, and found occasion for

revolt in the fate of Lucretia, who made awaywith herself after violence had been done to her.

Lucius Brutus, engaging in the revolution, came to

503

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

T^9 fierapoXrjf} iirl TrpcjTOV ^X6e top OvaWepiovKol '^(pTjadfjLevof;

avTa> Trpodv/jLOTaTO) avveêâXe4 T0U9 âaiKeh, fJiixP^ /^^^ eirlSoô^ tjv 6

Brj/j.o<; eva

'XetpOTOvrjaeLV clvtI tov âai\€a)<; arparrjjov,

i7<n;%taz/ ^yev 6 Ova\Xepio<:, eo? t& Bpovrtp

fiaXXov apxîv irpotJTjKov 'qyefiovt r?}? iXevOepta^;

yeyevT]/jLevo)' 8va-)(€patvofi€vov Be tov t?}? fiovap-

%ta9 6v6fiaTO<:, koX Bokovvto<: civ aXvirorepov tov

Brjixov ixepLcrOetcrav virofielvai ttjv dp^V^ f^cu Bvo

TrpoâXXofjLevov koX KaXovvTO<^, eKiri^wv jxeTo, tov

l^povTov alpeOrjaecrOai koI o-vwiraTevaeLv BirjiJbap'

5 Tev, ypiOrj yap aKovTi r^ ^povTcp avvdp)(^ci)v

uvtI tov OvaXXepiov TapKvvioep(ov,dXX* ol BvvaTol BeBioTe*: tov? âaiXeh €ti

TToXXd ireipSyvTa^ e^coOev koI fiaXd(T(TOVTa<; ttjv

iToXiv, eôvXovTO tov ivTOvcoTUTOv avT0c<; iÔpbv

e%etz^ (iTpaTTjyov co? ou;^ vcprjaofievov.

II. ÂyavaKTMV ovv 6 OvaXXipio^;, el firj

7naT€V6Tai irdvTa irpdTTSiv eve/ca Trj<; iraTpLBo';,

oTt, firjBev IBia kukov vtto t(ov Tvpdvvcov ireTrovde,

tt}? t€ PovXtj^ direaTT) koX Td<; avvT^yopia^ diretire

Kol TO TTpdTTeiV TO, KOLVCL TTttl'TeXw? i^cXlTTeV,

wo'Te fcal Xoyov toi<; ttoXXol^; irapao-'^^êtv kuI

(ppovTtSa, <j)oôvfi6VOif: fiT) Bi opyrjv 7rpoa6ep,€vo<;

T0i<i âaLXevuLV dvaTpiylry t^ Trpdy/xaTa fcal ttjv 982 TToXcv iiria-cpaXcjf; ex^vaav, eVet Be koI tt/oo?

504

PUBLICOLA, I. 3-n. 2

Valerius first of all, and with his most zealous assist-

ance drove out the kings.^ Then, as long as the

people was likely to elect one man as their com-mander in place of the king, Valerius acquiesced,

thinking it more fitting that Brutus should have the

office, because he had led the way to freedom. Butthe very name of monarchy was odious to the people,who thought that it would be less vexatious to submitto an authority which was divided, and therefore

proposed and demanded that two men should beelected to the highest office. Then Valerius, who

hoped that he would be chosen next to Brutus, andwould be consul with him, was disappointed. For

against the wishes of Brutus, Tarquinius Collatinus,the husband of Lucretia,was elected as his colleague,^instead of Valerius. He was a man of no greaterexcellence than Valerius, but the influential citizens

were afraid of the kings, who were still puttingforth many efforts outside, and trying to appeaseresentment inside the city, and they therefore desired

to have as their commander the most pronouncedenemy of the royal family, believing that he wouldmake no concessions to them.

II. Valerius, accordingly, vexed that his desire to

do his utmost for his country should be doubted,

merely because he had received no private injury at

the hands of the tjrrants, withdi'ew from the senate,

gave up his practice as an advocate, and abandoned

entirely his public activities. This caused anxious

remark among the multitude. They feared lest, in

his wrath, he should attach himself to the royal

exiles, and subvert the established order of the city,

which was in a dangerous pass. But when Brutus,

» Cf. Livy, L 68i ; u. 2, 11.« Cf. Livy, i. 60, 4.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

€Tepov<; riva^ viroyfriav e^coi^ o BpoOro? eôvXeroBta a(payLCov opKacxrai rrjv fiovXrjv kol irpoelirei'

Tjfiepav, Karaâf; fiaka (j)acBpo<; eh ayopav 6

OuaWipiof;, koI 7rpcoro<; ofioaa^; jxr^hev ivScoaeiv

firjB' v<f>i](TeaOat> TapKVVLOL<i, dWa iroXefiâecv

Kara Kparo^; vTrep rr)? eXevOepia^, rjSovrjv re rfj

ôvXy Koi Odp(To<; afia to?? dp)(ôvcn irapia'yev.

€vOv<; Be Kal rd epya rov op/cov i/Seâuov.

3 TTpeo-jSei^; yap riKOV diro Tap/cvp[ov ypafifiara

KOjjiiôvTe^ iiraycoyd rov Bi]/jlov /cat X6yov<; iin-

eiKel^y 0I9 fJbdXiara tov<; 7roXXov<; wovro Bca-

(j)deip€iv, Xeyo/j,6Voi<; irapd âaiXew^ dêiKevat,TO (f)p6vr}/jLa Kol fjLerpiwv BelaOat Bokovvto'^.

TOvrov<; eh to ttXtjOo^ olofievwv Belv tmv virdTav

irpoayayelv ovk eXaaev OvaXXepto^, dXX! eveaTTj

KOL BiefccoXvcTev dvOpcoirotf; irevr^dt Kal âpvvo-fjievoLfi jxaXXov t^9 TvpavviBof; tov TToXefiov dp'xjd^

Kal 7rpocf)daei<; vea)TepL(rjj.(bv eyyeveaQai,III. Mera Be TavTa irpeaêt^ rJKOv eTCpoi ttj^

T€ âaiXeia^ dcjilo-Taadat Kal TroXe/jLOvvTa irav-

aaaOai tov TapKvviov XeyovTe<;, diraLTelv Be Ta

'^prjfjbaTa Kal ra? ovaLa<; avrw Kal (jaXois Kal

olKeioL^, d(f>Mv BtaîcocrovTai, (f)evyovTe<;. eTriJcXo)-

fievcov Be iroXXcav Kal fjAXicTTa tov KoXXaTLvov

avvayopevovTO<^, aTpeiTTOî q)v dvrjp Kal Tpaxvôpyrjv 6 B/DoOro9 iêBpafiev eh dyopdv, jrpoBoTqvdiTOKaXoiv TOV avvdp)(pvTay iroXefiov Kal Tvpav-viBof; d(f)op/i^d<; ^^piôfievov oh Beivov r)V ovtco^}

2 i<p6Bia i^vyvj^ y^rjchiaacrOai. avveXOovrrov Be T(bv

TToXtT&v TT/JCOTO? lhcoTrj<i dvTjp eliTev iv BrjfLW t6t€

506

PUBLICGLA, II. 2-iir. 2

who had his suspicions of certain others also, desired

the senators to take a sacrificial oath, and set a dayfor the ceremony, Valerius went down with a gladcountenance into the forum, and was the first to take

oath that he would make no submission or concession

to the Tarquins, but would fight with all his mightin defence of freedom. This pleased the senate and

inspired the consuls with courage. And his actions

speedily confirmed his oath. For envoys came from

Tarquin bringing letters calculated to seduce the

people, and specious words by which they thoughtthe multitude were most likely to be corrupted,

coming as they did from a king who seemed to havehumbled himself, and to ask only moderate terms.

These envoys the consuls thought should be broughtbefore the assembled people, but Valerius would notsuffer it. He was unalterably opposed to giving

poor men, who considered war a greater burden than

tyranny, occasions and excuses for revolution.

III. After this, other envoys came announcingthat Tarquin abdicated his throne and ceased to

wage war upon the city, but demanded for himself,his friends, and his kinsmen, their moneys and

efFects,^ wherewith to maintain themselves in exile.

Many were inclined to grant this favour, andCollatinus in particular joined in advocating it, but

Brutus, a man of harsh and unyielding temper ran

forth into the forum and denounced his colleague as

a traitor, because he would bestow the means for

waging war and maintaining tyranny on men to

whom it were a terrible mistake to vote even a bare

subsistence in exile. And when an assembly of the

citizens was held, the first to speak among them1 Cf. Livy, ii. 3, 5.

HOT

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Tdloî McvovKLo<;, to) re B/?ouTft) Sia/ceXevofievo^

Kal Tot? '¥w/jLaLOi<; irapaivodv opav 67rco<; ra

XpW^'^^ A^^''"* CLVTciiV ovra irokeôiT] tt/do? toi'9

Tvpdvvov^ fjbaXkov Tj fjLCT eKeivayv Trpoî avTOv<i.

ov fir)v aXV eBoê toI<; 'VcofiaiOL^s rrjv eXevOepiav

exovcnv, virep 779 eirdXefiovv, firj irpoeadai ttjv

elpT^vTjv eveKa %/)77/iaTft)i', dXka avveKâXelv kol

ravra T0t9 TVpdvvoi<i,

'Hi^ Se apa TapKvvicp X0709 p'lv iXdîaro^;Twi/ ')(^p7]fidT0)V, 7)

S* d7raLT7)(TL<; dfia irelpa rov

3 B/jfjLov /cat KaracTKevi] TrpoSoala^;. /cal ravr

eirparrov ol Trpecrêt^ vito/jL€vuvt6<; iirl rfj roiv

'XpTj/jbdreov irpocpdaei, ra fiev dTroBtSoa-dai, ra Se

(pvXdrreiv, ra B diroTrefjiTreLV <f>dcrKOpre<;, cixP^

ov Bie(j)6€t.pav 0LK0V<; Bvo rcov Ka\o)v KayadSiv

vo/jLLôfjbiva)Vt rov 'A/cuXXtwi/ rpeh eôvra ôv-XevrcL'^ Kal Bvo rov OvireWicov. ovroi 7rdvr€<;

Tjaav diro firjripcov dBeXîBol KoWarlvov rov

vTrarevovro^y IBLa Be OvlreXkioL<^ erepa Trpo^

Bpovrov 0LK€t,6rr]<i vTrrjpx^v. dBeXcprjv yap avrcov

4 6 B/30OT09 eZ^jêKol iralBa^; ef avri)*; irXeiova^;' cov

Bvo T0U9 iv rjXiKLa (Tvyy€r€i<; 6vra<i d/UL Kal

avvÔei^; ol OvireWtoi Trpoarjydyovro Kal awe-TTeiaav iv rfj rrpoBoa-ia yeveaOai Kal Karafil-

âvra<i eavrov^ eh yevo<; p.kya rb rwv TapKvvlcovKal jBacrCkLKCL^ eK,7riBa<^ dTraWayrjvat t?}9 rov

7raTpo<; dê\repia<^ Kal x^\e7r6T7]ro<;* 'x.^XeTro-

rTjra fiev ro dirapaiTrjrov avrov tt/oo? toi'9

7rovr)pov<: \eyovr€<;, rfj 8' dêXrepia irpoGiroLfQ"

508

I PUBLICOLA, III. 2-4

was Caius Minucius, a private man, who exhortedBrutus and advised the Romans to see to it that thetreasures fought with them against the tyrants,rather than with the tyrants against them. However,the Romans decided that, since they had the libertyfor which they were at war, they would not sacrifice

peace for the sake of wealth, but cast this also out

along with the tyrants.^Now the wealth, of course, was of very slight

consequence to Tarquin, but the demand for it wasat once a test of the people's disposition and a meansof instigating treachery among them. And it waswith this that the envoys busied themselves, makingthe property merely a pretext for remaining in the

city, and saying that they were selling part of it,

and reserving part, and sending part of it away. Atlast they succeeded in corrupting two of the noble

families of Rome, that of the Aquillii, which hadthree senators, and that of the Vitellii, whichhad two. All these, by the mother's side, were

nephews of Collatinus the consul, and besides, the

Vitellii were related in another manner to Brutus.

For Brutus had married a sister of theirs, and she hadborne him several sons. Two of these, who had cometo manhood, and were their near kindred and close

companions, the Vitellii won over and persuaded to

join the plot for betraying the city, to ally them-selves with the great family and the royal ex-

pectations of the Tarquins, and rid themselves of

the stupidity and cruelty of their father. For theygave the name of cruelty to that father's inexorable

treatment of criminals, and as for his stupidity, hehad for a long time, as it appears, feigned and

» Cf. Livy, ii. 4, 3.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

ybari /cal 7rapaKa\v/j.fjiaTC iroXuv ^povov, ct)9 eoiKe,

^(^prjadfievo^ aa<j)aX6ia(; eveica 7rpb<; Tov<i rvpdv-

vov<;, ovS^ varepov ecpvyev avTr]<i rrjv eTrcovv/JLiav.

IV. 'n? S' ovv avveTTeiadr] to, fieipaKLa /cal

TOt? ÂkvXXlok; eZ? X070U9 rfkOev, op/cov Ofioaai

fii'yav eSoê iracn xal Seivov, dvdpcoTrov aâ-yePTO<; eTnaTreiaavTa^^ at/ia koX tmv a7r\dy)(vcov

6iy6vTa<;. iirl tovtols et? rrjv Â/cvWlcov olfciav

(TVvrj\6ov. rjv S' 6 ol/co^, iv w ravra SpdcreLv

ejiieXXov, olov €lK6<i, v7repr}ijLo<; koI afcorwBr}^.

eXaOev ovv avTov<i ol/cirrjf; ovo/ia OvLvhiKio<;

evhov KaTaicpvâ^^ eavrov, ov icar iiTLôvXrjp 99

2^7 TTpoaLcrdrjalv riva tov /jLeWovTO<;, aXV evBov

wv €rv)(€ /cal irpocnovaiv avTol<^ [lera o"jrovhr}<;

6(j)6fjvaL 0o/877êl9 vireaTTj, Xdpva/ca K€i-/jLevr]v irpo

avTOV 7roLr}adjjL6vo^, &(tt€ Kal roov irparrofievcov

Oearr)^ yeveaOai /cal tmv fiovXevfjudToyp iir^Koof;.

eBoê S' avTOL<i toi'9 virdrov'; dvaipelv, /cal ravra

Br}\ouaa<i ypd'âvre<; e7n(Tro\d<^ rrpo^ rov TapKv-VLov eBcDKav rot? Trpecrêar Kal yap aticovv avro-

6l, rcjv *A/cvWicov êvoi yeyovorefs, Kal rore rj}

avvcopôaia rraprjaav.

3 'fl9 Be ravra rrpdâvre^ dirrjXkdyrâ-av, vire^-

ekOcbv 6 OvLvBiKLO<^ XdOpa, ^^prjaaaOai rolî

wpoaireaovcnv ovk elx^v, dXX* rjiropelro, Beivov

fiev 7}yovfi€vo(!, coairep rjv, rrpo^ irarepa Bpovrovvlcov i^dyicrra Kar7]yopelv rj 7r/)09 Oetov dBeXcpiBcovrov KoXXartvov, IBicoryp Be 'Pco/jLalcov ovBiva vo-

îo

PUBLICOLA, III. 4-iv. 3

assumed this, to insure his safety from the cruel

designs of the tyrants,, and afterwards the surnameof Brutus, which had been given him for it, clung to

him.

IV. When, accordingly, the youths had been per-suaded and held conference with the Aquillii, it wasdecided that all the conspirators should swear a greatand dreadful oath, pouring in libation the blood of a

slain man, and touching his entrails. For this purpose

they met at the house of the Aquillii.^ Now the

room in which the ceremony was to be held was, as

was natural, dark and somewhat desolate. Withouttheir knowing it, therefore, a slave named Vindicius

had concealed himself therein, not with design, or

with any inkling of what was to happen there ; he

merely chanced to be there, and when they came in

with anxious haste, he was afraid to be seen by them,and hid himself behind a chest that lay there, so

that he saw what they did, and heard what theyresolved upon. Their decision was to kill the con-

suls, and when they had written letters to Tarquinto this effect, they gave them to his envoys, who were

living there as guests of the Aquillii, and were then

present at the conspiracy.Their business transacted, the conspirators de-

parted, and then Vindicius stole secretly away fromthe house. He knew not what use to make of whathad befallen him, but was at a loss, considering it a

dreadful thing, as it really was, to arraign the sons

of Brutus before their father, or the nephews of

CoUatinus before their uncle, on the most abominable

charges, and yet believing that no Roman in a

private station could be entrusted with such im-

* At the house of the Vitellii, according to Livj, ii. 4, 5.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

4 jji^wv ix^yyôp aiTopprjTWV TrfkiKoxncoy. nrav Kav fiaWov rj BvvaTo<; cov rjavxiav ayeiVj eXavvo-

fievof; Be rSt avveiSori tov Trpay/iaTO?, copfirjae

7ra)9 TTyOo? TOV OvaWipLov, fiaXiara TOL<i KOLVohKol <l)L\avOpco7roi<;^ iiraxOeh tov avBp6<;y otl

iraaiv evTrpoaoBoî rjv toI^ Beo/jbivotfi, kol ttjv

oiKiav ael irapelx'^v dveqyyfievrjVf koI \6yov ov-

Bev6<; ovBe XPî'Civ aireppiiTTei toov TaircLvcov,

V. 'n? ovv dvefir) tt/jo? avTOV 6 OvivBLklo^

KoX KaTelire TravTa, Map/cov re tov dSeXcpov Trap-ovToî avTM fjLovov KoX T^9 yvvaiKo^y eKiikayei^KoX hel(7a^ OvaXkepLO^ ovkcti irporjKaTO tov

avOpwirov, dXka KaTaK\€L(Ta<^ et? to oiKJjfjLa kol

(pvXaKa Tr)v iavrov yvvacKa Tai<; 6vpai,<; iirtaT'^-

aa^y TOV jxev dBe\<f)bv iKeXevcre ttjv jSacriXiKrjv

eiravXiV irepicxovTa to, ypd/jL/iaTa Xaêlv, dvBvvaTov y, kuI tou9 oiKeTa^ irapac^vXarTeivat'TO? Be irekaTCdV tg ttoWcov koX (piXcov del irepX

avTOV ovTcov /cat depaTreiaî avxvrj'i, i^dBiê tt/jo?

TTjV olKLaV TCOV*

AkvWlCOV OVK evBoV OVTCOV

2 Blo /jLr]Bevb<i dv itpoaBoKi^(javTO<i dxrupuevo^ Bid

Ovpcov eiTLTvyxdvei rot? ypdixjMiaL fceifiivoL^ oirov

KUTeXvov ol TTpeaffei';. TavTa B^ avTOv irpuT-TOVTO<i ol *A.KvWiOi Bp6fi(o irpocreîpovTO, Koi

irepX Ta9 dvpa^ crvfjLfjLiâvTe'i i^'^TOvv dcbeXeaOai

Ta9 iiTLo-ToXd'i. ol 8' tjijlvvovto, koX Ta i/jLUTta

7r€pcffaX6vT€<; avTcov T0t9 TpaxvôL^ vtto ffla^ /cat

/X0X,i9 Ci)0OV/JL€VOl KOL wOoVVTeî Bid TCJV (TTeV(07ra>V

eh TTjv dyopdv eveâXov. Ta 5' avTa /cal nrepl tt)v

eiravXiv dfia ttjv âaiXiKrjv eyivero, tov MdpKovypa/jL/jLaTCDV eTepeov ev T0t9 (TKeveai Kojjuôfxevcov

^<pi\ay6puiroi5 Bekker supplies rpSwotSf after Porson.

512

I PUBLICOLA, IV. 3-v. 2

portant secrets. The last thing that he could do,

however, was to hold his peace, and driven on by his

knowledge of the affair, he made his way somehowto Valerius, attracted especially by the affable and

kindly ways of the man.^ For he was easily ac-

cessible to all the needy, always kept open house,and never refused to hear or help one of the

lowly.V. Accordingly, when Vindicius came to him and

told him the whole story, in the presence of his

brother Marcus only, and of his wife, Valerius wasstruck with consternation and fear, and would notnow let the man go, but shut him up in a room andset his own wife to guard the door. Then heordered his brother to surround the royal residence,seize the letters, if possible, and take the servants

into custody. He himself, with the numerousclients and friends who were always about him,and with a large company of retainers, went to the

house of the Aquillii, who were not at home.

Therefore, to the surprise of everybody, he forced

the door, and came upon the letters lying in the

quarters where the envoys were lodging. Meantimethe Aquillii came up in hot haste, joined battle at

the door, and sought to take away the letters. ButValerius and his party resisted the attack, threwtheir togas about their opponents' necks, and after

much struggling on both sides, at last succeeded in

pushing them through the streets into the forum.

The same success was had at the royal residence,where Marcus laid hands on other letters which wereto be conveyed away in the baggage, seized as many

* Vindicius laid the matter before the consuls, accordingto Livy, ii. 4, 6.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eTTiXafjilSavo/jiivov, koI tmv âcriXcKOJV oaov^ Sv-

varb^; rjv ekKOVTO^ eh rrjv ayopdv.VI. *E7r6t Se Tov Oopvôv KareTravcrav ol vira-

roL Kol TOV OvaWepiov KeXevaavro^ ifc t?)? olKia<;

6 'OvivSLKto<; 7rpo'}]X^Vf ^<^^ jevo/i6V7j<; KaTrjyopia<;

dveyvcoaOrj to, ypd/jL/jbara fcal tt/jo? ovSev iroXfJir]-

aav avTenreiv ol dvhpe<^, rjv fiev KaTi](j)eia kcll

(TKoirr) Toiyv dWcoVy oXtyot Be /SovXofievoi Ta>

B/oouTft) ')(CLpiê(T6ai <j)vyr]<; i/jbefivqvro. Kai tl

KoX }LoXXaTlvo<i auTOt? eXiriho'^ eirieLKovf; eveSiEov

8eBaKpvfjL€V0<; koI OvaXXepio^ cncoircov. 6 Be

^povTO'; ovo/jLaa-TL rcov viow eKarepov TrpoaenrcoVt

**''A7€, w Ttre," elirev,*'

dye, « Ttêpte, tL ovk2 airoXoyelcrde irpo^ rrjv KarrjyopLav;

"&)? B^ ovBev

dTreKpivavro rpU ipcoT7]0tvre<;, ovtw^ 7rpo<; rov<!

vTTTjpera^ dTroarpe'âfs to irpocrcoTrov,*'

"Tfierepov

7]Br]f^* etTre, "to Xolttov epyovJ^ ol Be ev0v^

a-vXXal36vTe<; tou? veavlcrKOV^; Trepteppijyvvov rd

IfidTia, Ta9 'xelpa<i dirriyov OTrlaco, pd^BoL^3 eâivov rd crco/jLara, rStv fiev dXXcov ov Bvva-

fievcov TTpoaopdv ovBe /caprepovvrcov, eKelvov Be

Xeyerai firjTe Ta9 o-^jreiî dirayayeiv aXKa'yoaefirjT oiKTO) TL Tpeyjrai, t»}9 Trepl to TrpoaeoTrov

opyrj^ /cat âpvTrjTO^, dXkd Beivov evopdv KoXa-

ôjjLevoi<; T0t9 Traialv d^pi ov KaTaT€LvavTe<; av-

TOL'9 eirl TOvBa(po<; ireXeKcc t<z9 KecpaXd^^ dire^

Koyjrav. ovto) Be TOL19 dXXov^ iirl tm avvdpôi'TL 10*

TTOLTjadfievo^ ^X^"^' efai/a(TTa9, epyov elpyaafievoôvT eiraivelv /8ovXofjLevoL<; d^Lco<; ovTe 'êyeiv

4 i^LKTOV^ f) yap dpeTrj'i vyfro'; 6t9 dirdOaav

€^€(JT7}ae Tr]v ylrvîjv, rj irdOovi p.eye9o<i el^ dvaX"

I PUBLICOLA, V. 2-vi. 4

of the king's people as he could, and haled them to

the forum.

VI. When the consuls had quieted the tumult,Valerius ordered Vindicius to be brought from his

house, the denunciation was made, the letters wereread aloud, and the accused had no courage to reply.Most of the people held their peace for very sorrow,but a few spoke of exile as a penalty, wishing to doBrutus a kindness. They were also somewhat

encouraged to hope by the tears of Collatinus andthe silence of Valerius. But Brutus, calling each of

liis sons by name, said :" Come, Titus, come

Tiberius, why do ye not defend yourselves againstthis denunciation }

"But when they made no

answer, though he put his question to them thrice,he turned to the lictors and said :

" It is yoursnow to do the rest." These straightway seized the

young men, tore off their togas, bound their handsbehind their backs, and scourged their bodies with

their rods. The rest could not endure to look upon the

sight, but it is said that the father neither turned his

gaze away, nor allowed any pity to soften the stern

wrath that sat upon his countenance, but watchedthe dreadful punishment of his sons until the lictors

threw them on the ground and cut off their heads

with the axe. Then he rose and went away, after

committing the other culprits to the judgement of

his colleague.1 He had done a deed which it is

difficult for one either to praise or blame sufficiently.

For either the loftiness of his virtue made his spirit

incapable of suffering, or else the magnitude of his

^ With this account, compare Livy, ii. 5, 5-9. Brutuslooked on "eminente animo patrio inter publicae poenaeministerium."

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yr}(Tiav. ovBirepov Bk fxiKpov ovB* avOpcoirivov,

aX)C rj Oelov fj dTjptcoBe^. SuKacov Bk rfj Bo^yTov avBpo^ TTjV Kpiaiv eirecrdai /jlclWov ^ rrji'

apeTTjv aa-Qeveia tov Kpivomo^; aTTiaTeladat. 'Pa>-

fiaioi yap ov roaovrov epyov OLOvrac ^PcofivXov

yeveaOai t^9 7roXe&)9 rrjv IBpvaLVy oaov Bpovrov

Tr]v KTicnv T?79 iroXiTeiafi koI KardaraaLV.

VII. 'II9 8* ovv dirrjXdev ef dyopa<^ Tore, ttoXvv

fiev 'X^povov e/c7rX7;fi9 el')(eKoi (ppiKij kol (Ticottt}

irdvra^ eVt T0t9 BiaTTeTrpaypuevoi^;' 7rpo<; Bk ttjv

K.oWaTLvov fiaXafCiav Kal fjueWTjcnv dveOdppija-av

ol ÂkvXKlol, Kal XP^^^'^ rjîovv Xaffovre^; diro-

Xoy^cracrOac, Kal tov OvivBLklov avTOc<; dwoBo-

OrjvaL Bovkov ovTa, Kal p^rj irapa to?9 KaTrjyopoi^2 elvat. ôvXopivov Be raOra a-vyxfopetv Kal

BiaXvovToî iirl tovtoi^ ttjv iKKXrja-Lav, 6 OvaXXi-

pLO<; ovTC TOV dv^pwTTOv 0I09 T* Yjv d(j)€2vac Tc3

Trepl avTov o'xXco KaTZ^pîyp^kvoVy ovtc tov Btj/iov

eta Trpoepsvov tov<; irpoBoTa^ direXOelv. Te\o9 Be

T0i9 acofiao-tv i'jnâXobv Ta9 %6t/oa9 iireKaXeiTO

TOV BpovTov, Kal TOV KoXXaTLVov iôa Beiva

TTOLelv, ei t& <Tvvdp)(ôvTt TraiBoôvia^ dvdyKijv

TrpoaTpiylrdfievo^ auTo<i oterai Belv KaTaxcf'pitêadai

Tot'^ yvvai^l T0U9 irpoBoTa^ Kal iroXepiov^ t^93 iTaTpiBo<;. dyavaKT0vvT0<; Be tov virdTOV Kal

KeXevovTO^ aTrdyecrOat tov OvlvBLklov, ol fjuev

vTnjpeTai Bicoo-dfievoi tov o^Xov tJittovto tov

dvOpcoTTov Kal T0U9 dcpacpovfjuivov^: ctvittov, ol

516

I PUBLICOLA, VI. 4-Yii. 3

suffering made it insensible to pain. In neither

case was his act a trivial one, or natural to a man,but either god-like or brutish. However, it is rightthat our verdict should accord with the reputation of

the man, rather than that his virtue should be dis-

credited through weakness in the judge. For theRomans think that the work of Romulus in buildingthe city was not so great as that of Brutus in foundingand establishing its form of government.

VII. After Brutus had left the forum at this time,for a long while consternation, horror, and silence

prevailed among all who remained, as they thoughtof what had been done. But soon the weakness andhesitation of Collatinus gave the Aquillii fresh

courage ; they demanded time in which to maketheir defence, and the surrender of Vindicius to

them, since he was their slave, and ought not to bein the hands of their accusers. Collatinus was

willing to grant this request, and was about to

dissolve the assembly with this understanding ; butValerius was neither able to surrender the slave,

who had mingled with the throng about him, norwould he suffer the people to release the traitors andwithdraw. So at last he seized the persons of the

Aquillii and summoned Brutus to the scene, cryingaloud that Collatinus was acting shamefully in laying

upon his colleague the necessity of killing his ownsons, and then thinking it necessary for himself to

bestow upon their wives the lives of his country's

betrayers and foes. The consul was indignant at

this, and ordered that Vindicius should be taken

away, whereupon the lictors pushed their waythrough the crowd, seized the man, and beat those

who tried to rescue him. Then Valerius and his

517

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

dh(j>i\oi,

Tov OvaXkepiov irpoecnrjaav a/jivvofievor

Kot 6 Br]fjLO<; iôa KeXeucov Trapecvai rbv Bpovrov.

rJK€v ovv av6i<; viTocrrpe'â^' koI y€vo[xevi]<^ avrw

ai(07rf}<; elirev on rot? fikv vloh avrb^ aTro^pwi/

r/v SiKaart]^, irepl 8e rcov aWcov Tot9 iroXirac^

iXevOepoi^ odcrc'\jr7](f)0V

SiScocrr Xeyerco Be 6

ôv\6fj.€VO^ /cat TretOerco tov Brj/iiov. ovKen fievroL

Xoycov iherjcrev, aXka t?}? '\lr^(pov BoOeio-rjf; irdaai^

d\6vTe<; iTreXefCLaOrjo-av.

4 'O Be KoXXaTti/09 ^v fiev, a)9 eoiKCVy iv VTroyjria

Tivl Kol Bia (Tvyyiveiav rcov âa-LXecov, tj-Ôovto

S' avTOv Kol T(p Bevripo) rcov ovojudrcov, dcpoaiov-

fievoL TOV TapKvvtov. a>9 Be zeal TavTa (Tvve^rj,

TTavTOLTrao'f, irpoaKpovca^ d(j)r]Ke ttjv dp')(r)v evcov

/cal T^9 7ro\€Ci)9 vTre^TJXOev. ovtco Brj iraXiv

dp')(aipeaicov yevopievwv vTTaTo<; drreBeb'X^drj Xafi-

irpco^ 6 OvaXXepio<^, dîav diroXa^cov T779 irpo-

5 Ovfua<; ')(^dpLV' ri<; ol6p.ev6<^ tl Belv diroXavaai

TOV OvLvBiKiov i-\}rr]^LaaT0 TTpcoTov direXevOepoveicelvov iv 'Vcopbrj yevicrdai, 7roXiTr]v kol <f)epeiv

'\]rrj(f)Ov f] ôvXoLTO (ppaTpta irpoavepnÔevTa. tol<;

S* dXXoi<; direXevOepOL'i o-ê kol yttera ttoXvv

'X^povov iôvcTiav '\jrr)(j>ou Br)fjiaywycov eBcoKev "Air-

7ri09* 17 Be '7ravTeXr}<; direXevOepcodiî d')(pt vvv

omvBiKTa XeyeTai Bl i/celvov, W9 (pao-i, tov

OvivBiicLov.

YIII. *E/c TOVTOV T^ puev 'XpTjfiaTa tmv jSaac-

Xiayv Biapirdaai Tol<i 'I^cofialoif; eBwKav, t^v Be

S18

I PUBLICOLA, VII. 3-viii. i

friends stood forth in the man's defence, while the

people shouted for Brutus to come. He turned

backj therefore, and came, and when silence hadbeen made for him, said that for his sons, he himself

sufficed as judge, but he would leave the fate of the

other traitors to the votes of the citizens, who were

free, and any one who wished might speak and try to

persuade the people. However, by this time there

was no need of oratory, but a vote was takenwhich unanimously condemned the men, and theywere beheaded.

Collatinus, as it would seem, was already undersome suspicion on account of his relationship to the

royal family, and the second of his names also washateful to the people, who loathed the sound of Tar-

quin. But after these recent events, he saw that hewas altogether obnoxious, and therefore resigned his

office and withdrew secretly from the city.^ A newelection was consequently held, and Valerius was

triumphantly declared consul, thus receiving a

worthy reward for his zeal. In this reward he

thought that Vindicius ought to share, and therefore

had a decree passed which made him, first of all

freedmen, a citizen of Rome, and entitled him to

vote with any curia in which he chose to be enrolled.

Other freedmen received the right of suffrage in

much later times from Appius," who thus courted

popularity. And from this Vindicius, as they say, a

perfect manumission is to this day called " vindicta." ^

Vin. After this, the property of the royal familywas given to the Romans to plunder, and their house

1 Cf. Livy, ii. 2, 3-10.'Appius'Clavidius Caecus, censor in 312 b.o.

' Cf. Livy, ii. 5, 10.

519

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

olKiav KariaKa-yfrav koI rrjv eiravkLV rov S*

*Ape[ov irehiov to rjhtarov iKeKTTjro TapKvvio^,fcal TOVTO r& 9e(p KaOiipaxrav. ervê Be rede-

pio-fievov dpTC, Kol K€ifievo)v en tmv SpayfidrcovovK (povTO Beiv akoav ovBe ')(prjadat Blcl rrjv

fcaOiepwo-iVy aXKa avvBpafi6vT€<; ecpopovv ra?

2 afiaX\a 6e(a koX aKapirov. wOov-

fiivcov Be 7roWa>v eir akXrjkoi^ koI ddpocov

vTTijyayev 6 poO? ov iroXifV tottov, aX,V oirov

T^ irpSiTa (Tvveve'xOevTa fcal TrepiTreaovTa to??

(TT€p€ol<i viredTTj, tS)v €7n(j)epofjL6va)v BieôBov ovk

eypvTwVt aW' evia'^pfjuevoDV koX TrepiTrXe/cofievcov,

iXcififiavev r) (TVIxtttj^l^ 1<t')(vv koi ptêo(Tiv avâvo- 10]

3 fjLevTjv VTTO Tov pevfjuiT0<;, tXvv T€ ycLp eTrrjyaye

ttoWtJv, rj Trpoa-icTTafievr) Tpocprjv irapeZx^v dfjui

Kol KoWrjaiv, ai re TrXTjyal aaXov ovk eTTOiovv,

dXhJi fjuaXaKOJ^ Trteôvaat avvrfkavvov eh tuvto

iravra kol avve7r\aTT0v, viro Be fieyeOov^ koI

(TTciaea)^ eTepov avTO tieyeOoî e/craro Koi 'vcopap

avaoe'Xpp^v7}v ra irXetcrTa t(ov vtto tov TroTa/nov

KaTaêpofievoiv. tovto vvv vrja-6<; eaTiv lepdKaTo, TTjv ttoXlv, e%6i Be vaov<; 6ewv Koi irepi-

TTCLTOV^, KaXecTUt Be (jxovrj t§ AaTLVcov MeatfSvolv y€<j)vp(ov.

4 "Ewoi Be TovTo avfJLireaelv laTopovo-iv ovx ore

TapKwlov KaOiepoiOr) to ttcBlov, dXXd %/)oi/ot9

v(TT€pov dXXo xj^piov ofwpovv e/celvcp Tap/cvpui^

5^0

PUBLICOLA, VIII. 1-4

and palace were razed to the ground. But the

pleasantest part of the field of Mars, which had

belonged to Tarquin, was dedicated to that god.Now it chanced that it had just been reaped,and the grain still lay upon the ground; butsince the field had been consecrated, they thoughtit not right to thresh it or use it in any way.They therefore with one accord carried the sheavesto the river and cast them in. In like manneralso they cast in the trees which had been cut.

and left the place wholly untilled and barren for

the god of war. The quantities of stuff thus heapedtogether were not borne along by the current

very far, but the advanced portions stopped andaccumulated at the shallows which they encountered.

The portions that followed these could not getthrough them, but impinged upon them and blended

inextricably with them, and the aggregation wasmade increasingly firm and fast by the action of thestream. For this brought along great quantities of

mud, the addition of which increased the size andcohesion of the mass. And besides, the impacts of

the current were not rude, but with a gentle pres-sure pushed and moulded everything together.

Owing to its size and position the mass acquiredfresh size, and an extent sufficient to receive most of

what was brought down by the river. It is now a

sacred island over against the city, containing templesof the gods and covered walks,^ and is called in theLatin tongue

'' Inter duos pontes."Some, however, say that this did not happen when

the field of Tarquin was consecrated, but in later

times, when Tarquinia devoted another field adjacent1 Of. Livy, ii. 6, 1-4.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

avelarj^, ?; he Tap/cvvia irapOivo'^ rjv lepeia,

fiia Tcov ^KaridSfDV, ea'Xê he Tifia<; avrl tovtov

fi€ydXa<i, ev ah rjv koX to fiaprvpiav avrrj^;

Sexeo-OaL p,6vr]^ yuvaiKcov. to S* eêlvai yapêladai

sfrijcpiaapLevcov ov irpoaeSeâro. koI ravTU pêv

ovTco yeveo-Qai, p.v6o\oyovai.IX. TapKVVCOV Be rrjv etc TrpoSoaiw; aTroyvovTa

T^9 cLpxfl^ dpoXrjyjnv iSeâvro Tvppijvol irpoOvp,(o^

KoX peydXrj hwdpLsi Karrjyov. dvreîjyov Be rou?

*V(opLaiovev "Apacov^ d\ao^, to Be Alaoveiov

Xeip^wva Trpoaayopevovaiv. dpôpevayv Be avTCov

avvdyetv ek %6i/)a9 "Appcov 6 TapKuvLOv irah

KoX ByOoOTO? o ^Vcopaicov viraro^ ov Kara rv^V^dX\7]\oi<; 7Tept7rea6vTe<;, dX)C vtt' e-)(6ov(; kol

2 6pyri<i, 6 fiev co? eirl Tvpavvov koI iroXepîov rijî

iraTpiBo^, 6 Be T779 <jivyfj(; dpLVv6pievo<^, a>pp,7)aav

opocre T0i9 Xttttoi^. Ovp.& Be pudWov rj Xoyio-p^w

7rpoa-p,iâvT€<; rjêiBrjcrav avroiv koX a-vvaireOavov

dW'^\oi<;. ovTco Be Beivov yevopbivov rod irpod-

ycovo<; ov/c ea^^v 6 dycov TeA<09 iTrieiKearepov,

dWd KoX BpdcravTe<; icra /cat 7rad6vT€<; ol arparol

Bi€Kpidr]orav v'TTO yeipoivo^.3 'Hz^ ovv ev diTopOL^ 6 OvaWepL0<;, ovk elBax;

TO Ti59 P'd'xv^ 7fepa9, dWd tou9 (TTpaTi(t)Ta<; opcov

roh pev avTcov veKpol^ ddvp,ovvTa^^ eiraipopevovî

Be T0l<i TWV TToXepLCOV OVT(0<i aKpLTOf; TfV KoX

^"Apcriov Am^'ot, Coraes, Bekker, after Livy's silua Arsia

(ii. 7, 2) : Ovpaov.

522

PUBLICOLA, VIII. 4-ix. 3

to this. Now Tarquinia was a holy virgin, one of

the Vestals, and received great honours for this act,

among which was this, that of all women her testi-

mony alone should be received. The people also

voted her permission to marry, but she did not avail

herself of it. This is how the thing happened, as

the tale runs.

IX. But Tarquin, despairing of attempts to regainhis throne by treachery, was eagerly welcomed bythe Tuscans,^ who set out to restore him with a

great force. The consuls led the Romans out to

meet them, and arrayed their forces in certain sacred

precincts, one of which was called the Arsian grove,the other the Aesuvian meadow. When the engage-ment began, Aruns the son of Tarquin and Brutus

the Roman consul encountered each other. It wasnot by chance, but both were driven on by hatred

and wrath, the one to attack a tyrant and foe of his

country, the other to avenge himself on the author

of his exile. They urged their horses to the combat,but since they engaged with fury rather than calcu-

lation, they were reckless of themselves, and fell byone another's hands. The battle which had such a

dreadful beginning, ended no less disastrously ; the

armies, after inflicting and suffering equal losses,

were separated by a tempest.^Valerius was therefore in perplexity, not knowing

what the issue of the battle was, but seeing his

soldiers as much disheartened by their own losses as

they were encouraged by those of their enemies. So

undistinguishable and equal was the slaughter on^ By the people of Veii and Tarquinii, according to Livy,

ii. 6, 4f.2According to Livy (ii, 7, 1), the Tuscans departed in

terror after the battle.

,523

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irapaXKriXo^ viro ttXtJOov^ 6 (povo^:, ov fjirjv a\X*

e/carepoL'i iyyvdev opco/jueva ra oiKela jjuaXkov

ifiefiaiov ttjv ^rrav r) rrjv vlktjv elKaô-4 fi€va rh TOiv iroXefiicav. i7r€\dov(T'rj<; Be vuKTO<i

oiav elKO<; ovrco p^fxaxni^^ÔLî teal yevofjuevcov

iv Tjavxô. rcdv aTparoTriScov, Xiyovcri aeiadrjvaLTO aXao'î €/€ 8' avrov (pcovrjv eicTTeaetv fieydXijv

(ppdôvaav &)? evl TrXetoy? iv ry P'ci'XJf} redvrjKaa-i

Tvpprjvojv rj ^PcofiaLoov, rjv B* dpa Oelov tl to

(f>Oe'y^d/jL€vov' evOv^ re yap vtt* avrov tol<; jxev

dXoXdâi irapearr} fieya Koi OappaXeov, ol Be

TvppTjvol 7repL(f)0^0L yevofievot koI cvvrapa-

%êz^T€9 eêireaov i/c rov arparoTriBov koX Bie-

5 airdprjaav ol TrXeLcrror toi)? Be KaraXeL(f>9evTa<i

oXiycp irevTaKio-'x^LXiaiv e\d(T(Tov<; iireXdovTe^ el-

Xov ol ^Fcofjialoiy kol raXXa BirjpTraaav. ol Be

vefcpol BiapL6p.r)6evT€^ evpeOrjcrav rpLaKoacot p,ev

iirl')(îXLoi,<;

koI p.vpioi<i ol tS)v TroXejjLLcov, ol Be

^Pcofjiaicov Trap' eva roaovTOi,

TavTTjv T7]v fjudxn^ Xeyovat yeveaOat irpo fiid<;

xaXavBoyv MapTLcov, idptd/jLêvae B* oltt avTrj<:

OvaXXepioî ela-eXdaa^; TeOpLiriro) irpcoro^ virdrcov,

6 Kal TO 7Tpdy/ia crep^vr^v koI jJueyaXoirpeirri irape-

(Têv oyfnv, ov/c eiTi<pOovov ovB^ dvidaaaav, &)?

evcot Xeyovat,, tou9 6p(ovTa<;* ov yap av ea-)(e

^TJXov TOcrovTOV ovBe (ftiXorifiLav eh err) irdp,-

iroXXa Biapîvovcrav. direBeâvTO Be tov OvaX-

Xepiov fcal Ta? eh rov avvdp'xpvra rLp,d^, aU7 €fCKop,L^6p,€Vov Kal OaiTropêvov iKoajurjae' zeal

Xoyov eir avrSt Bie^rfkdev iinrdcpLOV, o? ovrco^; 10

viro 'Fcofialcov '^yaTrrjdi] xal roaavrrjv eax^ xdpt,v

5*4

PUBLICOLA, IX. 3-7

both sides. Each army, however, was more convinced

of defeat by the near sight of its own dead, than it

could be of victory by conjecturing those of the

enemy. But when such a night came on as mustneeds follow such a battle, and both camps were

quiet, they say that the grove was shaken, and a

loud voice issued from it declaring that the Tuscanshad lost one man more in the battle than the

Romans. The utterance was manifestly from some

god,^ for at once the Romans were inspired by it to

loud shouts of courage, while the Tuscans were

panic-stricken, abandoned their camp in confusion,and were for the most part dispersed. As for those

that remained, a little less than five thousand in

number, the Romans fell upon them, took them

prisoners, and plundered the camp. And when the

dead on both sides were numbered, those of the

enemy were found to be eleven thousand and three

hundred, and those of the Romans as many less

one.

It is said that this battle was fought on the last

day of February. Valerius celebrated a triumph for

it, being the first consul to drive into the city on a

four-horse chariot. And the proceeding afforded a

spectacle which was imposing and magnificent, notodious and offensive to the spectators, as some say ;

otherwise it would not have been continued withsuch ardour and emulation for countless years. Thepeople were also pleased with the honours whichValerius bestowed upon his colleague at the funeral

ceremonies. He even delivered a funeral oration in

his honour, which was so admired by the Romansand won such favour that from that time on, when

*Silvanus, as Livy tells the tale (ii. 7, 2).

VOL. 1. c 525

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

i^ eKeivov reXevTijaaacv virb rcov dpiarcov iy/cco-

fiidêadai. Xiyerai Be /cal tmv ^KXXtjvikcov ctti-

Tacj)Lcov ifC€ivo<; yeveaOai irpeal^vTepo^, etye fir)

Kol TOVTO SoXojj'o? earIV, (w?'

Ava^Lfjbevr}<^ 6 pyrcop

[(TTOpTJKeV.

X. 'AWa Bt* eKelva fiaXXov tjÔovto rq> OvaX-

XepLcp Koi TTpocri/cpovov, ore l^povro^; ijuev, ov

irarepa t^9 ekevOepiafi ivop^têv 6 3^/xo9, ovk

'^îcoae fiovo^ apx^tv, aXXd koI irpwrov avrw

(Tvvdp')(pVTa TTpoaeiXeTO koX Bevrepov" Ovroal

3'," €<j)acrav, "€t9 avrov diravra crvveveyKdpevoÔVK ecTTi Trj<i l^povTOv KX7)pov6po<i L'Trareta? /jLjjBev

avTW TTp0(T7)K0var)(;, dXXd rrj^ TapKvvlov rvpav-2 vlBo<;. KairoL tL Bel Xoyw pev ^povrov iyxcofjitd-

êtv, epy(p Be pipêlaOat TapKvvLov, viro pd^BoLôpbov Tracrai? koX ireXeKecn Kariovra povov efOLKia^ TOcravTr)^ to p,eye6o'^ oarjv ov /caOeiXe rr^v

Tov âaiXecofi;"

koX yap ovrwf; 6 OvaXX€pio<;

(pKei rpayiKcorepov virep tjjv KaXovpevrjv OveXlavOLKiav eiTiKpepLapLevrjv rfj dyopa kol KaOopoiaavef v'\jrov<; aTravra, BvcnrpoaoBov Be ireXdcrai kol

'XâXeirrjv e^coOev, uxTre fcara/3aLV0VT0<; avrov ro

G')(r}p,a p,eTea)pov elvai /cat /SaaiXiKov rrj'i irpo-3 iTopirr)^ TOV oyKov. oaov ouv iv dpyrj koX itpdy-

paai peydXoL^ dyaOov rjv e'X^Lv oiTa irapprjcTLavdvTL KoXaKeiaf; Trpoatepeva xal X6yov<^ dXtiOels,

eBetêv. aKOvaa^ yap otl ToliX(ov Bte^tovTcov, ovk eîXovei-

KTjCTev, ovK TJyavdKTTjaev, dXXa Ta')^v ttoXXov<;

526

PUBLICOLA, IX. 7-xr3

their great and good men died, encomiums i

pronounced upon them by the most distinguiscitizens. And this funeral oration of his is said to

have been earlier than any among the Greeks, unless

Anaximenes the orator is right in saying that the

custom originated with Solon.

X. But that which the rather displeased andoffended the people in Valerius was this. Brutus,Avhom they regarded as the father of their liberties,

would not consent to rule alone, but once and againchose a colleague to rule with him. " But this

Valerius," they said," in concentrating all power

upon himself, is not a successor to the consulate of

Brutus, to which he has no right, but to the tyrannyof Tarquin. Yet why should he extol Binitus in

words, while in deeds he imitates Tarquin, descendingto the forum alone, escorted by all the rods andaxes together, from a house no less stately than the

royal house which he demolished .^

"For, as a

matter of fact, Valerius was living in a very splendidhouse on the so-called Velia.^ It hung high over

the forum, commanded a view of all that passedthere, and was surrounded by steeps and hard to

get at, so that when he came down from it the

spectacle was a lofty one, and the pomp of his

procession worthy of a king. Accordingly, Valerius

showed what a good thing it is for men in power and

high station to have ears which are open to frankness

and truth instead of flattery. For when he heardfrom his friends, who spared him no detail, that hewas tliought by the multitude to be transgressing,he was not obstinate nor exasperated, but quickly

got togetlier a large force of workmen, and while it

* An eminence of the Palatine hill.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

(Twayayibv rexv^Ta*; ert vvkto^ ov<nj<; KarejSoKe

Tr)v ol/cCav Kal KariaKa-yfrev etV eBacpo^; iracav.

4 wo-re [leO* rj/jLepav tou9 *Va)fjLa[ov<; optovra^; koX

(TVVL(TTafjL6vov<; rov fiev dvSpo^ ayairav kol 6av-

fidêtv TTjv fi€'yaXo(f)po(Tvvr)v, dÔeadai Be r^?

OLKLai\ot

TOP OvaXkepiov d^pt ov tottov eBco/cev 6Brj/iiof;

avT& KoX KaredKevaaev oliciav eKeivrj^; /lerpico-

repav, oirov vvv iepov iariv Ovlku^ Trora? ovofia-

ôfievov.

5 BouX6/i€ro9 Be/JUT) fiovov eavrov, dXka kcli rrfv

dpxv^ dvrl (poPepafi xj^LporjOT] koX 7rpoa(j)i\rj

TTOielv TOL<; TToWot?, Tou? re ireXeKei^ aTrlXvae

Ta>v pd/SBcov, avrdî re ra? pd^Bov<; et? eKKkifjaiav

7rapiQ)v vtprJKe T(p Brjfxw kol fcareKXive, fieya

TTOicov TO TTpoaxv/^^ ^V^ BijpioicpaTLa^, Kal tovto

6 /jLexpt vvv Bia(j)v\dTT0V(7iv ol dpôvre^;. eXdvOave

Be Tou? TToWoij^ ovx cavTov, a)9 wovro, iroicdv

Taireivov, dWd rov (j)06vov rfj /jLeTpLorrjTi ravrrj

KaOaipchv Kal /coXovcov, avrw Be TrpocmOel^ ro-

aovTov fieyedo<; Bvvdfieax; oaov dcpaipecv iBoxei

Tfj rov

5?8

PUBLICOLA, X. 3-6

night tore the house down, and razed it all

to the ground. In the morning, therefore, the

Romans saw what had happened, and came flocking

together. 1 hey were moved to love and admiration

by the man's magnanimity, but were distressed for

the house, and mourned for its stately beauty, as if

it had been human, now that envy had unjustly

compassed its destruction. They were also distressed

for their ruler, who, like a homeless man, was now

sharing the homes of others. For Valerius wasreceived into the houses of his friends until the

people gave him a site and built him a house, of

more modest dimensions than the one he had lived

in before, where now stands the temple of Vica Pota,^so-called.

Wishing now to make not only himself but also

the government, instead of formidable, submissive

and agreeable to the multitude, he removed theaxes from the lictors' rods, and when he came into

the assembly, inclined and lowered the rods them-selves to the people, emphasizing the majesty of the

democracy. This custom the consuls observe to this

day. And before the multitude were aware of it, hehad succeeded, not by humbling himself, as theythought, but by checking and removing their envious

feelings through such moderation on his part, in add-

ing to his real influence over them just as much as hehad seemed to take away from his authority, and the

people submitted to him with pleasure and bore his

* Victress Possessor, a name of the goddess of victory,whose temple was at the foot of the Velia (Livy, ii. 7, 12).

According to Livy, Valerius was building the house on the

Velia, but in order to allay the people's jealousy, broughtthe materials to the foot of the hill, and built the housethere.

529

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Bijfiov Kal<f>epoin-o<i e/covalco^. oScrre koX UottXi-

KoXav dvr]y6peuaev avrov arjfjLaivei Be rovvo/ia

B7j/jL0Kr]Br]' KoX TOVTO fiaXkov Larvae rcov up-

')(ai(DV ovofidrcov, w koI rjiiel^; XPV^^H'^^^ '^^^

XOLTTOV jSloV TOV dvBpOî laTOpOVVT€<i.

XI. ^Tirareiav fjuev yap eBcoxe fierievai koX

irapayyeWeLV rot? ôv\op,evoLS' irpo Be tt)^

KaTa<TTd(7€(o<i tov (Tvvdp')(pVTO^ ovK elBch^; rov

yevrjao/JLevov, dWd BeBico'^ dvTLTrpaîv viro (f)06vov

Tivo<i rj dyvoLa<;, e^prjaaro tj} fjLOvap)(îa 7rp6<;

ra KdXkiara koX fxeyLara rcov iroXiTevfMaTOiv,

irpcoTOV jiev yap dveTrXyjpcoae ttjv /SovXrjv oXt-

yavBpovaav ereOvrjiceaav yap ol jxev vtto Tap-2 Kvviov irporepov, ol Be evay)(o<; ev rfj p-d^y. toi)?

S' eyypa<êvTa^ vir' avrov Xeyovcrtv eKarov Kal

e^/j/covra Teaaapa

êvyovrt Blkyjv eirLKaXelaOai BlBov^' Bevrepo^ 6

701)9 dpxv^ dvaXaj36vTa<;, r)v 6 Brjp,o<; ovk eBcoêv,

3 diroOvrjCTKeLV /ceXevcov TpLTO<; Be p-erd toutol>9,

69 eôi]0rj(7€ T0t9 7r€vr](TLv, w rd reXr} twv ttoXltcov

d(êlXe Kal irpodvpôrepov dirreGdai tmv epyaaicov

eTToirâev diravra';. 6 Be ypacpel^; Kara twvaTreiOovvTcov T0t9 virdToi<i ov)(^ tjttov eBoê Br)p,0'

tik6<; elvat, Kal 7r/909 r(ov TroXXayv puaXXov rj

BvL'aTOiv yeypd(f)dai. î]p,Lav yap dTreideuaf; eraê4 ôcov irevre Kal Bvelv Trpo^drcov dîav. r)v Be

TLp.r) TTpo^drov p,ev 60oXol BeKa, yQoo9 Be CKarov,

ovTTco vo/jLLapxiTi 'X^p(op,evcov iroXXo) Tore *Pco/jiaLa)v,

530

PUBLICOLA, X. 6-xi. 4

yoke willingly. They therefore called him Publicola,'a name which signifies people-cherisher. This name

prevailed over the older names which he had borne,and it is the name which I shall use for him in the

remainder of this Life.

XI. For he permitted any who wished to enter

the lists and sue for the consulship. But before the

installation of his colleague, not knowing who hewould be, but fearing an opposition due to some

jealousy or ignorance, he used his sole authority for

the enactment of his best and most importantmeasures. In the first place, he filled up the senate,which was much reduced in numbers ; for some had

long before been put to death by Tarquin, andothers had recently fallen in the battle with the

Tuscans. Those who were enrolled in this body byhim amounted, they say, to a hundred and sixty-four.After this he enacted several laws, one of which

especially strengthened the position of the commons

by allowing a defendant to appeal to the people fromthe judgement of the consuls. A second made it a

capital offence to assume a magistracy which the

people had not bestowed. A third, following these,came to the relief of the poor ; it lifted the taxes

from the citizens, so that all engaged more zealouslyin manufactures and commerce. And the one whichwas enacted against disobedience to the consuls was

thought to be no less popular in its character, and to

be in the interest of the many rather than of the

powerful. For the fine which it imposed ondisobedience was only the worth of five oxen andtwo sheep. Now the value of a sheep was ten obols,and that of an ox, a hundred, for the Romans at

» Cf. Livy, ii 8, 1.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

aXXa Trpoâreiaifi koX KTr)voTpo(piai<i evOrjvovvrcov.

Bib Kol ra? ovaia<i ^XP^ ^^^ ^'^^ "^^^ irpo^drcovTreKovXia /caXovai, koX twv vo/jLicr/jbdrcov to?9

'ira\aioTdroL<; /3uvv i7r6)(^dpaTrov rj irpoârov rj

crvv. eriOevTO he koX iraia-Xv avrcov XvtXXou^;

fcal 3ov/3ovX/cov<; kol KairpapLOix; ovofjuara koI

TiopKLOv^' Kairpaî pbev ra? alya^, iropKOv^ he

T0U9 %ot/)ou9 6vo[Jid^()VTe<i.

XIL Oi/Tft) he irepl ravra hrj/jLOTiKo<^ yevo/jievo';

vo/jLoOeTTjfi Kol /xerpioî, iv ro) jiq perpiw^ ttjv rt/jLco-

piav xjirepereivev. eypayjre yap vofiov dvev Kpiaeco^KT€Lvat hihovra rov fiovXa/xevov rvpavvelv KreL-

vavra he (f)6vov fcadapbv cTroiTjaev, el 7rapd(T)(0CT0

Tou dhiKrjixaTO^ tov<; €Xey)(ov<;. eirel yap ov

hvvarov e'JTi')(eLpovvTa rrfXiKOVTOi^ XaOelv diravraf;,

ovfc dhvvarov he to firj XaOovra rov /cpcOrjvai

(pOdo-ac /cpelrrova yevofievov, rjv avaipel to dhi-

KTjfia KpicTLv, irpoXajBelv ehcoKe rw hwajxevcp Kara

Tov dhiKovvro^;.

2 ^]L7rr}ve07] he koI hia rov ra/jbievriKov vofiov.

eirel yap ehei 'X^pi^fxara irpo^ rov TroXefiov elcre-

veyKelv diro roiv ovaicov tou? TroXlra^;, ovr avro^

d-yjraorOai rrjf; olf<:ovofita<i ovre tol"? c^tXou? eaaai

ffovX6/jL€vo<; ovO^ 6Xo)<; et? oIkov Ihicorov irapeXOelv

hrjfioaia ')(pr)iJiaTa, rafxielov fiev direheiê tov tov

^povov vaov, cS pêxpi' vvv ^(^pco/iievot hiaTeXovcn,

Ta/iiiaf; he tm hi^fjuw hvo tS>v vecov ehco/cev diro-

3 hecâr koI a7reSet;^^//crai/ ol irpSiTOi liovirXio^

* iv Tip fjL^ fj-iTpitf with Coraes : iv t^ ^lerpltp.

PUBLICOLA, XI. 4-xii. 3

that time did not use much coined money, but their

wealth consisted in flocks and herds. Thereiore to

this day they call their substance "peculium," from

"pecus/' cattle ; and their oldest coins are stamped

with the fio^ure of an ox, a sheep, or a hog. Andthey actually gave their own sons such surnames as

Suillius, Bubulcus, Caprarius, and Porcius; the last

two from "capra" and "porcus," their words for goatand pig.^

XII. But although in these particulars he showedhimself a popular and moderate lawgiver, in the

case of an immoderate offence he made the penaltysevere. For he enacted a law by which any onewho sought to make himself tyrant might be slain

without trial, and the slayer should be free from

blood-guiltiness if he produced proofs of the crime.

For although it is impossible for one who attempts so

great a task to escape all notice, it is not impossiblefor him to do so long enough to make himself too

powerful to be brought to trial, which trial his verycrime precludes. He therefore gave any one whowas able to do so the privilege of anticipating the

culprit's trial.

He also received praise for his law concerning the

public treasury. When it was necessary for the

citizens to contribute from their substance means for

carrying on the war, he was unwilling to assume the

administration of it himself, or to allow his friends to

do so, or, indeed, to have the public moneys broughtinto any private house. He therefore made the

temple of Saturn a treasury, as it is to this day, and

gave the people the privilege of appointing two

young men as quaestors, or treasurers. The first to

* The first two from forms of "sus," swine, and "

bos," ox,

533

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Overovpio^ koI Mlvovklo^ MdpKo<i koI %/9?7/AaTa

(7vvrj')(6rjTToXXd. rpLa/caiêKa yap direypdy^ravTO

fivpidhe^t 6p(j)avoL<; Traial xal XVP^^'* yviâi^lv

dveOeiarj^ tP)^ el(j<ôpa<;.

4 TaOra he BiotK7](Ta^ dTriEeiêv eavT& avvdp-Xovra TOP AovKpqria^ iraripa AovKp^riov, co t?}?

rjy6fjLoviKa)T€pa<i iîaTd/jt€vo<i ovri Trpea^vrepo)

rafeo)? irapiScoKe tou<; KaXov/jievov^ <^d(jKi^<^' koI

TOVTO 8L6/ji€tvev et? r}fjLd<i TO irpea-pelov dir iKCivov

ToU yepatrepoi'i ^vXarroêvov. hrel S' 6Xlyai<;

rjjxepaL^ varepov ireêvrrfaev 6 AnvKprjTio^yTrdXiv

dp')(aipe(Tio)v yevopêvayv ypeOr) Ma/o/co? 'ClpdTW<i,Kol (jvvr)p-)(e rat UoirXt/coXa rbv vTroXeiTTOfievov

')(p6vov Tov iuiavTOV.

XIII. TapKvvlov Be *l?co/jLaiOL<; hevrepov TToXefxovev Tvpprjita ki,vovvto<; fxeya ar^jxelov Xeyejai

yeveaOar /Sao-cXevwv yap en Kal tov veoDV rov

KâTTiTcoXiou Ato? 6X(î^ TapKvvt,o<; oaov ovttco

(jvvTeTeXeafxevov, €lt6 fxavTeia^; yevofjuevrjî eir av-

Tft) Boâv dXXo)<;, dpfia Kara Kopvcf)r)v eTrKTrrjcrac

Kepajieovv eêhwKe Tvpprji>oL<; ricriv i^ Ovijicov

Brjixiovpyolî elr oXiyov varepov eêireae Ti]<i

2 dpxH'^' Twz/ Bl Tvpp7]vcov BLaireTrXaafievov to

Te9pimrov i/iiâXoPTfov eh rcd/jLivov, ou/c eiraOev

a irpoa-rjKBL irdaxîv irrfKov ev irvpi, irvKvovadai

Kal crvvL^dvecv, e/cTr]K0/j.evT]<; r?}? vypoTrjTO^;, dXX*

eêcTTT] Kal ayBrjae Kal p.eye6o<^ e(T')(ev dfia pcofirj

Kal (TKXr)p6T7)TL TOCTOVTOV oxTTe fioXi^ eâipe9?]vaL

TTjv 6po(pr)v diroaKevaaa/jLevcDV Trj<; Kauivov Kal

3 Twi' TOLXov irepLatpedevToov. tw? ovv iBoKei toI<;

fjbdvTeac Oelov elvai (Trjjxelov evTV)(lafi Kal Bvvd-

fxew^ Trap oh ecouTO to TiOpLinrov, eyvcoaav oi

534

PUBLICOLA, XII. 3-xiii. 3

be thus appointed were Publius Veturius and Marcus

Minucius, and large sums of money were collected.

For one hundred and thirty thousand names were on

the assessment lists, orphans and widows beingexcused from the contribution.^

This matter regulated, he caused Lucretius, the

father of Lucretia, to be appointed his colleague in

the consulship.2 To him he yielded the precedence,as the elder man, and committed to him the so-

called "fasces," a privilege of seniority which has

continued from that day to this. But Lucretius died

a few days afterwards, and in a new election MarcusHoratius was chosen consul, and shared the office

with Publicola for the remainder of the year.XIII. While Tarquin was stirring up in Tuscany

another war against the Romans, a thing of great

portent is said to have happened. Wlien Tarquinwas still king, and had all but completed the templeof Jupiter Capitolinus, either in consequence of an

oracle, or else of his own good pleasure, he com-missioned certain Tuscan craftsmen of Veii to place

upon its roof a chariot of terra cotta. Soon after

this he was driven from his throne. The Tuscans,

however, modelled the chariot and put it in a furnace

for firing, but the clay did not contract and shrink in

the fire, as it usually does, when its moisture

evaporates. Instead of this, it expanded andswelled and took on such size, strength, and hardness,that it could with difficulty be removed, even after

the roof of the furnace had been taken off and its

sides torn away. To the seers, accordingly, this

seemed a divine portent of prosperity and powerfor those who should possess the chariot, and the

» Cf. Camillua, ii. 2. « Cf. Livy, ii. 8, 1-4. --^

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

OvîOL firj TTpoea-Qai to?? *Vw[xaioi^ aTrairovcri,

Kol uTrefcpLvavTO rovro TapKvvLOi<^, ov roi? Tap-KvvLou<; 6Kâ\ov(TL TrpoaijKCtv. oXijaifi h* varepov 104

r)/j,6paL<; rjaav XiTTTOiv aywve^ avrol^. kol tcl /nev

dWa deav kol (nrovSrjv elwOvlav 7rap6L)(6, to Be

VLKYjaav reOpLiTTTov 6 fiev r}ViO')(o<i i^rjXavve rod

4 iTTTroBpo/jLou G-'XêSrjv ia'Te<l)avo)fjLevo<;,ol Be lttttoi

7rT07)devT€<; air* ovBe/JLLa^; €fji<j)avov<; 7rpo(pd(7eco<;,

aXXa Kara ri Baifiovtov rj rvxv^ 'levro Travrl

Tayei irpo^ ttjv 'Fco/jiaicov iroXtVy eôi/re? rov

^p[o)(ov, ft)9 ovBev rjv epyov avrov KaTareivovTO^

ovBe Traprjyopovvrof;, aXX' rjpTraaro, Bovra tJ

pufif) Kal êpofjievov, d'x^piov rw KaTnrcoXitp

7rpo(Tp.iâvT€<; eîâXov avrov ivravOa irapa rr)v

7rv\r]v fjv vvv *Farovp.6vav KaXovai, yevop.evov

Be rovrov Oavpdaavre^ ol Ovrjioi Kal ô^7]0evre<i

eirerpe^lrav cnToBovvai ro dpfxa rot? rexîrai^;.

XIV. Toz^ ê veoiv rov KaTrcrcoXtov Aio<; ev-

faro fiep dvaOiâeiv TapKvvto^ 6 Arj/napdrov

TToXepwv 'âpivoL'^, cpKoBopLTâ-e Be TapKvvLo<i 6

2ou7r6/9/9o9 u/o? o)v rj vicovo<; rod evâpêvov

KaOiepoiaaL Be ovk ecpOaaev, dXXa piKpov dire-

Xeiirero rov reXo<; eêiv ore âpKvvio^ eêmrrrev,ft)9 ovv drreipyaaro reXeoj? koX rov irpoarjKOvra

KoapLov d7reL')(ev, yv rep TIottXikoXo. îXorLpLia2 TT/oo? rr]v KaOtepwcnv. e(f>d6vovv Be ttoXXol rcov

BvvarMV, Kal rjxôvro ral<^ p,ev dXXaL<; ripbalf;

TjrroVy a<? vopLoOerwv Kal arparriyodv €K Trpoar)-Kovrcov ea^c* ravrrjv B* ovaav dXXorpiav ovk

(povro Belv avr^ irpoayeveadat, Kal rov 'flpdrcov

536

PUBLICOLA, XIII. 3-xiv. 2

people of Veii determined not to give it up. Whenthe Romans asked for it, they were told that it

belonged to the Tarquins, not to those who had

expelled the Tarquins. But a few days afterwards

there were chariot races at Veii. Here the usual

exciting spectacles were witnessed, but when the

charioteer, with his garland on his head, was quietly

driving his victorious chariot out ot the race-course,his horses took a sudden fright, upon no apparentoccasion, but either by some divine ordering or bymerest chance, and dashed off at the top of their

speed towards Rome, charioteer and all. It was of

no use for him to rein them in or try to calm themwith his voice ; he was whirled helplessly alonguntil they reached the Capitol and threw him out

there, at the gate now called Ratumena. TheVeientines were amazed and terrified at this occur-

rence, and permitted the workmen to deliver their

chariot.

XIV. The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus had beenvowed by Tarquin, the son of Demaratus, when hewas at war with the Sabines, but it was actuallybuilt by Tarquinius Superbus, the son, or gi*andson,of him who vowed it. He did not, however, get so

far as to consecrate it, but was driven out before it

was quite completed. Accordingly, now that it was

completely finished and had received all the orna-

ments that belonged to it, Publicola was ambitiousto consecrate it. But this excited the jealousy ot

many of the nobility. They could better brook his

other honours, to which, as legislator and militarycommander, he had a rightful claim. But this one

they thought he ought not to have, since it waspaore appropriate for others, and therefore they

J37

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

irpoeTpiTTovTO kol Trapoo^vvov avrLiroielaOai rrj^

Kadtepcoaew^, yei ofi6v>]<; ovv rw TioTrXiKoXa

(jTpaTeiat,a-d/jL€vot tov ^VLpcltlov

KaOtepovv avrjyov eh to KaTrcroaXioVf co<; ovk

3 av eKelvov TrepiyevofievoL irapovro^. €vloi> Be

âac K\rjp(p tcov virdrcov Xaêlv eKelvov eirl

TTjv (TTpajeiav a/covra, tovtov Be eirl ttjv KaOie-

pcocTLv. eêari Be irepl tovt(ov m ea-^êv ecKa-

êiv Tot? TTpa^delcTL irepl rr)v KaOiepwaiv, elBoU

ovv 2e7rTe/x/3/?/ai9, o avvTvy^dvet irepX rrjv irav-

aeXrivov fxaXicTTa tov MerayeirviMvo^;, avv7]6poc-4 (T/jL€vo)v dirdvTCdv el<; to KairLTcoXLOv, 6 fiev

^flpuTto^ aL(i)7r7]<; yevofievrjfi rd t dWa Bpdaa<iKal Tcov Ovpcov dyjrd/jLevof;, wairep eOa iaTLv,

e7re(f)6eyyeTO ra? vevajjua-fieva^^ eirl rfj KaOtepcoaei

^covd^;' 6 3* (iBeX(j)o<; tov IloTrXiKoXa Ma/?/t09 ck

TToWov irapd ra? 6vpa<; v(f)eaTa)<; Kal irapa^v-XdTTCov TOV /caipov,

** ^n i/Trare," elTrev,"

6 vlof;

5 aov TeOvrjKev iv tw crTpaTOireBw voaiâa^^ tovto

TrdvTUf; r/vlaae tov<; aKOvaavTa^' o 3' TipaTioôvBev BiaTapaxOei^;, aW* rj toctovtov jjlovov

elrrcov, "'Pt-v/rare tolvvv ottol ôvKeaOe tov

veKpov, iyo) yap ov TrpoaLe/nac to vre^-ô?," eVe-

paive TTjv XoiTrrfv KaOiepcoaiv. rjv Be to TTpoarjy-

yeXfievov ovk d\r)6e<^, dW o ^ldpKO<; co? utto-

aTTjO-oDV TOV *n,pdTiov i'êvaaTO. OavfxaaTO^ ovv

6 dvrjp T?}? evaTaQeia^, ecTe tj-jv dirdTrjv iv KatpwjSpaxel avvelBev eiTe iriaTevOel^ 6 X6709 ovk

eKLV)]aev avTov.

XV. "Eoi/ce Bk Kol irepl tov BevTepov vaop

538

PUBLICOLA, XIV. 2-xv. i

encouraged and incited Horatius to claim tl

privilege ot consecrating the temple. At a time,

then, when Publicola was necessarily absent on

militaiy service, they got a vote passed that Horatius

should perform the consecration, and conducted

him up to the Capitol, feeling that they could

not have gained their point had Publicola beenin the city. Some, however, say that Publicola

was designated by lot, against his inclination, for

the expedition, and Horatius for the consecration. ^

And it is possible to infer how the matter stood

between them from what happened at the conse-

cration. It was the Ides of September, a day which

nearly coincides with the full moon of the Attic

month Metageitnion ; the people were all assembledon the Capitol, silence had been proclaimed, and

Horatius, after performing the other ceremonies and

laying hold upon the door of the temple, as the

custom is, was pronouncing the usual words of con-

secration. But just then Marcus, the brother of

Publicola, who had long been standing by the door

and was watching his opportunity, said :" O Consul,

thy son lies dead of sickness in the camp." This

distressed all who heard it ; But Horatius, not at all

disturbed, merely said :" Cast forth the dead then

whither ye please, for I take no mourning upon me,"and finished his consecration. Now the announce-ment was not true, but Marcus thought by his

falsehood to deter Horatius from his duty. Wonder-

ful, therefore, was the firm poise of the man, whetherhe at once saw through the deceit, or believed the

story without letting it overcome him.^

XV. A similar fortune seems to have attended the

1 Cf. Livy, ii. 8, 6-8.

539

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Ofiola TV)(rj yevicrdai. rr)? fcaOiepaxreo)^, tov fxkv

yap TrpojTOv, tw? eiprjrai, TapKvvlov KaraaKevd-

aavTO^y *D.paTLOv Be KaOi€pa)aavTO<!, iv rol<i

ifi(f)v\loi<; 7ro\€/jLOL<; irvp dirooXecre' tov he Seu-

repov dvearrjae fiev XvWa<;, i7r€ypd<j}Tj Be t§

KaOiepcoaei, KarouXo? ^vWa irpoaTroOavovTO^,2 Tovrov Be ttoXlv ev rat? Kara OvlTeWiov ardcreaL

BLa<^6apevT0<i tov TpiTov Ty 7rpo<; ToXXa kol

TOVTO ')(^pr)adixeuo<; eviroTixla Oveaireat,avo<; ef

dp')(r]<; d^pi TeXov^ dvayaycov, iirelBe yevo/xevov

Kal (pOeipofxevov fiST oXiyov ovk eTretBev, dXXaToaoiTOV evTvx^ta XvXXav iraprjXOev oaov eKelvov

fiev T?5<? d<f>Lep(iiaew^ tov epyov, tovtov Be t?}?

dvaLpiae(o<; irpoaTToOavelv. dpua yap tw TeXev-

TTJcrai, Ovecnreo-tavbv iveTrprjaO?) to KainTooXLOV.

3 'O Be T6TapT09 OVTO^ VTTO Ao/jL€Tiavov Kal 105

avveTeXiaOr) koI Ka6i€pco6rj. XeyeTai Be Tap-KVVLov 669 T0U9 OefieXiov^ dvaXwaai Xirpaf; dp-

yvpiov TCTpaKi,(TjjLvpLa<;' tovtov Be tov Ka9*r)/j,d<;

TOV fMeyicTTOv iv '^(ofirj tcov IBlcotlkwv ttXovtov

€K\oyc(T6evTa to t^9 %/Ofcr 60(760)9 prj TeXecrai av

dvdXcofia, irXeov rj BLayîXiwv kol fjLvpicov Ta-

4 XdvTcov y€v6fji€vov. ol Be Kiove^ ix tou HevTe-

Xrjaiv iT/irjOyaav XWov, KdXXiaTa Ta> 7rd)(€i

7r/)09 TO fi7]fco<; eôvTe^' etBofiev yap avT0v<i 'A^?;-

vr)aiv. ev Be ^Viop^r) irX-qyevTe^^ avOi^ Kal dva^v-a6evTe<; ov ToaovTov eaôv yXa(j)vpia<^ oaov

aTTcoXeaav avix/xeTpiaî KaX^ tov KaXou, BidKevoi

^ Koi supplied by Bekker. after G. Hermann : (rvfifxerplaf

TOV Ka\Qv [the symmetry of their beauty).

I4P

PUBLICOLA, XV. 1-4

dedication ot the second temple. The first, as I

have said, was built by Tarquiii, but consecrated byHoratius; this was destroyed by fire during the civil

wars.^ The second temple was built by Sulla, but

Catulus was commissioned to consecrate it,^ after the

death of Sulla. This temple, too was destroyed,

during the troublous times of Vitellius,^ and Vespas-ian began and completely finished the third, with the

good fortune that attended him in all his under-

takings. He lived to see it comj^leted, and did not

live to see it destroyed, as it was soon after ; and in

dying before his work was destroyed he was just so

much more fortunate than Sulla, who died before his

was consecrated. For upon the death of Vespasianthe Capitol was burned.*

The fourth temple, which is now standing on the

same site as the others, was both completed andconsecrated by Domitian. It is said that Tarquinexpended upon its foundations forty thousand poundsof silver. But the greatest wealth now attributed

to any private citizen of Rome would not pay the

cost of the gilding alone of the present temple,which was more than twelve thousand talents.^ Its

pillars are of Pentelic marble,^ and their thickness

was once most happily proportioned to their length ;

for we saw them at Athens. But when they wererecut and scraped at Rome, they did not gain as

much in polish as they lost in symmetry and beauty,

»8.3 B.C. 2 69B.C. 3 69_v.D. < 80a.d.

** For purposes of comparison a talent may be reckoned as

worth £2fi0, or $1200.* Pentel6 was an Attic deme on the N.E. edge of the

Athenian plain, near which excellent marble was quarriedfrom the mountain. This was called Brilessua in earlier

times, then Pentelicus.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

5 Koi \ayapol <j)avivT€9, 6 fiivroi Oavfid(Ta<; rov

KaTTiTcoXLOv rr)v TTokvTeXeiav, el /iiav elSev iv

oiKia Aojii€Tiavov arroavrj âcriXiK-qv rj fiaXa-

velov rj iraWaKLBcov hiairav, olov iari to Xeyo-

fievov 'Eirtx^Pfôv tt/oo? top aacorov,

Ov (t)tXdv0p(O7ro'i TV y ecra' e;^6i9 voaov

TOLOVTOV dv ri 7r/?o9 AofxeTiavov eliretvTrpo^'^^Ôrj'

" Ov/c et'cre/3^9 ovBe (f)iX6rL/jL0<; tv y icrai' e;^6i9

voaov ')(âip€L^ KaroifcoBo/jLCov, cdairep 6 MtSa?

etcelvo^y airavrd aoi ')(pv<jd koX XWiva ffov\6-

[X€vo<; yiveaOai.^^ ravra fxev ovv irepl tovtwv.

XVI. 'O Be TapKuvio<; /xera rrjv /JieydXrjv

fidxv^ eV y koI rbv vlov dircoXeae/jLovo/iia')(î]-

aavTa Bpovro), Karacj^vycov eh to KXovaioviKireva-e Adpav Tiopalvav, dvBpa koi BvvapLiv

/jLeylo-TTjv e'xpvra twv ÎtuXikcov jSaaiXewv koX

BoKovvra 'x^pTjcrrbv elvai koi îXoti/jlov 6 S* vire-

(TX^'TO fior)6)](7eLV. KoX irpcorov fiev eirepL-êv eh

rcofiTjv KeXevcov Be)(e(T6ai rov TapKvviov co? S'

ovx vTTrjKovdav ol ^PwjjLaloi, KarayyeiXa^ avroh

TToXe/JLOv KOI xpovov iv c5 Kal ToiTov eh ov e/jbeXXev

2 epLâXetv, d<piK€To /.lera ttoWt}? Bwdjiew^;. Tlo-

7rXL/c6Xa<; 5' ypeOr) /lev aTrcDV vTraro^ to Bevrepov,KoX orvv avrS) TtVo? AovKp-tjTio^;- eiraveXOoov Be

eh 'T^co/jltjv Kal ôvXofievo^ tc3 (f)pov7]p,aTi Trpcorov

VTrep/SaXea-Oat rov VLopaivav, exriê ttoXcv ^«-

yXiovpiav rjBrj ttXtjctlov oVto? avrov. koI ret-

'X,i(Ta<i fieydXoi<; dvaXoofiaaiv eirTaKoaiovi iiroL-

54a

I

I

PUBLICOLA, XV. 5-XV1. 2

and they now look too slender and thin. However,if anyone who is amazed at the costliness of the

Capitol had seen a single colonnade in the palaceof Domitian, or a basilica, or a bath, or the apart-ments for his concubines, then, as Epicharmus saysto the spendthrift,

" 'Tis not beneficent thou art ; thou art diseased ;

thy mania is to give,"

so he would have been moved to say to Domitian :

" 'Tis not pious, nor nobly ambitious that thou art ;

thou art diseased ; thy mania is to build; like the

famous Midas, thou desirest that every thing become

gold and stone at thy touch." So much, then, onthis head.

XVI. But to return to Tarquin, after the greatbattle in which he lost his son in a duel with Brutus,he fled for refuge to Clusium, and became a suppliantof Lars Porsena, the most powerful king in Italy,who was thought also to be a man ofworth and noble

ambitions. He promised Tarquin his aid and assist-

ance. So in the first place he sent to Rome andordered them to receive Tarquin as their king. Thenwhen the Romans refused, he declared war uponthem, proclaimed the time and place of his attack,and marched thither with a great force.^ Publicola

was chosen consul for the second time, in his absence,and Titus Lucretius as his colleague. Returning,therefore, to Rome, and wishing, in the first place, to

surpass Porsena in the loftiness of his spirit, he built

the city of Sigliuria, although his adversary was al-

ready near at hand. After he had fortified it at great

expense, he sent to it a colony of seven hundred1 Cf. Livy, ii. 9.

543

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

Kov<; airedreiXev, q)(; paSvco<; (pepcov xal aSew? tov3 TToXefiov. 01) fii]V aXka TrpocrôXr]'; oêla^ tco

reixî yevofiivrjf; iêuxrOrjaav ol <û\a/C69 viro

rov Uopauva, kol (pevyovre^; oXiyov avveireaTTd-

aavTO Tou? TToXejiiLOv^ 6t9 rrjv iroXiv. ecpOrj Be

irpo Tcbv irv\(ov eKJBoiÔrjaa^ o HoirXi/coXa^, fcal

fid^W crvvdyjra<; irapa rov Trora/Jiov amelye irXi]-

dei îaôfxevoL^ rot? iroXeixioi^, ^XP^ ^^ rpavjxaaLveavLKol<^ Trepiireacov direKoi-daOri (f)opdS7)v eK rrj^

4 fjid^V^- '^0 8* avTO KOL AovKpTjTiov rov avvdp-'Xôvro'i avrS rraOovro^ dOvpbia T0t9 ^Vcofxaioi^

iveTrecre, koX (pvyrj tt/oo? rrjv iroXiv eawôv eav-

T0U9. ooOovfievcov Se rcov rroXefjbiwv Bia tt}? ffXt-V7j<i y€(J3vpa(; iKivBvvevaev rj 'Voiiij] Kara Kpdro<idX(f)vai» 7rpcoTO<; Be KokXlo^ 'i}pdrw<; Kal cvvavrM Bvo rcov iincpavecrrdrcov dvBpCov, ^Fjpfi[vLo<i

/cat AdpKL0<;, dvrearr](Tav irepl rrjv ^vXivrjv ye^v5 pav. 6 5' 'Clpdno'^ rov K.6/cXwv eTrcovv/jiiov ecrêv

iv TToXe/jLO) r(ov ofjufidrcov ddrepov etcKoireiî' o)?

3' evLoi Xiyovaiy Bta ai/jiorrjra tt)? ptvb^ ivBeBv-

Kvia<; Mare firjBev elvai to BiopLôv ra ofi/jLara

Kal ra? 6(f)pv<i avyKex^^^dat, l^vKXwira ôvXo-fievoi KaXetv avrov ol ttoXXoI t?}? yXd}rr7]<i oXi'

aOai,vovar]<; i/cpdrrja-ev virb irXrjdov^; JLokXlov Ka-

6 XelaOai. ovro<; ecrra)<; rrpo rrjf; y€cf)vpa<; yfivveroTou? 7roXe/iLov<i, dxpi ov Bte/coylrav ol crvv avru)

Karomv rrjv yecbvpav. ovrco Be fiera ra)V ottXcov

d(j)el<;eavrbv eh rov TroTa/iov direvyjâro, Kal

rrpoaefjiLê rfj rrepav o-)(9r) Bopan 'iuppTjviKw7 ^€fiXr)/jLevo<; rov yXovrov. 6 Be UoTrXiKoXa^; rrjv

dperrjv 6av}jidaa<i avrUa fiev elcDjyijcraro 'Pco- 106

544

PUBLICOLA, XVI. 2-7

men, indicating that he had no concern or fear

about the war. However, a sharp assault was made

upon its wall by Porsena, and its garrison was driven

out. They fled to Rome^ where the pursuing enemyalmost followed them into the city. But Publicola

promptly sallied out to their aid in front of the gate,

joined battle by the river side with the enemy, who

pressed on in great numbers, and held out againstthem until he was desperately wounded and carried

bodily out of the battle. The same fate overtook

Lucretius, his colleague, also, so that dismay fell uponthe Romans, and they fled for safety towards the

city. But as the enemy were forcing their way onto

the wooden bridge, Rome was in danger of beingtaken by storm. Horatius Cocles,^ however, first,

and with him two of the most illustrious men of the

city, Herminius and Lartius, defended the wooden

bridge against them. Horatius had been given his

surname of Codes because he had lost one of his

eyes in the wars. Some, however, say that his nose

was flat and sunken, so that there was nothing to

separate his eyes, and his eye-brows ran together, and

that for this reason the multitude wished to call him

Cyclops, but by a slip of the tongue the name of

Codes became generally prevalent instead. This

Codes, standing at the head of the bridge, kept the

enemy back until his companions had cut the bridgein two behind him. Then, all accoutred as he was,he plunged into the river and swam across to the

other side, in spite of a Avound in the buttocks from

a Tuscan spear. Publicola, out of admiration for his

valour, proposed that every Roman should at once

* The exploit of Horatius is much more dramaticallynarrated by Livy (ii. 10).

545

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiaCovî airavra^, oarjv cKaaro^ iv rjixepa Tpo(f>r}v

dv7]\L(TK€, hoivai (TvveLdeve'yKovTa^y eirecra t^?

ôoâ? r]v avTO<; Treptapoaeiev iv r)[iepa. 7rpo<;

Be TOVTOi^ iv tcS

lep^ Tov '}i(pai,aTOv, rrjv yevofiivijv ix rod rpav-

fiaro<; tu> uvSpl 'X^coXorrjra fiera rifxrj^: iraprjyo-

povvre<^.XVil. ^FiTTCfcecpLevov Be Tiopaiva rfj iroXei koX

\i/jLo<; i]TTTeTo T(bv 'P(op.aicov, /cat Tvpprjvoiv 6Tepo<;

crTpaTo<; avrb'^ KaO^ aurov eh rrjv -ôopav evi/3a\e.

UoirXt K6\a<; Be to rpuTOV VTrarevcov Yiopaiva

fiev drpe/jLCOv /cat (pyXdrrcov rrjv ttoXlv (pero Belv

dvrexîv, T0t9 Be 'tvpprivoL<i iire^fjXOe /cal a-v/jb/Sa-

Xobv irpe-xjraTO /cat 7revTaKi(T)(îXiov<i avrcov dvelXe.

To Be irepl Movkiov etpr^rai pbev viro ttoXXcjv

Kol Biacj)6pco<i, Xe/creov Be y fidXtara Trcareverat

Kol r)/jLLV. rjv dvrjp eh irdaav dperrjv dya66<;, iv

Be ToZ? iroXep.LKoh dpiaTOî' iinôvXevwv Be tov

Yiopaivav dveXelv TrapeicrrjXdev eh to CTpaTo-ireBov TvpprjviBa (jiopcov iaOrJTa koX ^covfj XP^'fxevo^ ofxoia. TrepteXOoDV Be to /Srjfia tov /3aai-

Xeo)? KaOeôfjbivov, /cal(Ta(j)(o<; fiev avTov ov/c

e/So)?, ipeaOai Be irepl avTov BeBioo^;, ov (pTJOrj

fidXiaTa Tcav crvyKaOeôpbevcov i/celvov elvai aira-

(rdpêvo^ to î<ô^ dTre/CTeivev. iirl tovto) Be

avXXr]ÔeU dveKpiveTO' Kai tlvo^ icrxapiBo^ irup

iXov(jr)^ fjLeXXovTL t& Yiopaiva Qveiv KeKOfnajxe-

vr]<;, virep^xdiv tyjv Beîav X^^P^ Kaiopbevrj^ t^9

aapKO<i €l(TT7]K€l TTyOO? TOV HopaiVaV dTTO/SXeTTCOV

iTafMO) Kal aryoeTTTft) r^ 7rp0(T(O7ra)f p^^xpi' ov 6av-

âvT^ bracketed in Sintenis* because of the hiatus

following.

54^

I

PUBLICOLA, XVI. 7-xvii. 3

contribute for him as much provision as each con-

sumed in a day, and that afterwards he should be

given as much land as he could plougli round in a

day. Besides this, they set up a bronze statue of

him in the temple of Vulcan, to console him with

honour for the lameness consequent upon his wound.XVII. While Porsena was closely investing the

city, a famine afflicted the Romans,^ and another

Tuscan army on its own account invaded their terri-

tory. Publicola, who was now consul for the third

time, thought that Porsena must be met by a quietand watchful resistance within the city ; but hesallied out upon the other Tuscan army, engaged it,

routed it, and slew five thousand of them.The story of Mucins has been often and variously

told, but I must give it as it seems most credible to

me.2 He was a man endowed with every virtue, butmost excellent in war. Designing to kill Porsena,he stole into his camp, wearing a Tuscan habit, and

using a speech to correspond. After walking aroundthe tribunal where the king was sitting with others,not knowing him certainly, and fearing to inquireabout him, he drew his sword and slew that one of

the group whom he thought most likely to be the

king. Upon this he was seized, and was beingquestioned, when a sort of pan containing live coals

was brought to Porsena, who was about to offer

sacrifice. Mucins held his right hand over the

flames and, while the flesh was burning, stood

looking at Porsena with a bold and steadfast

countenance, until the king was overcome with

1 Cf. Livy, 11. 12, 1.* Plutarch's version is far less coherent and dramatic

than Livy's (ii. 12).

547

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fid(Ta<i a(prj/c6V avrov koX to ft</)09 a7roSiSou9

oopeêv CLTTO rov jSij/iaro^;' 6 Se rr]v evcavvfiov

7rpoT€ivaT} Be tov (pojSov tov Ylopaiva V€Vt-

Kr]K(i}(; rjTTdadai t^9 a/oer^?, Kal ')(apLTL fi7)vveiv

a TTpo^ dvdy/crjv ov/c av i^yjopevae."TpiaKoacoc

rydp 'VwjiaiwVt^ e^'f],'*

ttjv avTrjv i/iol yvcofirjv

€XOVTe<; ev tw aTpaToirehw aov TfkavwvTaL Kaipbv

iiTLTTjpovPTe^' iyo) Be Kkrjpw Tucôdv koX irpo-

eirix^f-Pl^^^ o^^ a^X^^f^^'' '^V '^^XV* BiafiapTcav

dvBpo'i dyaOov fcal (j)i\ov pboXkov r) iroXefiiov

5 'VcofiaLoif; elvai TrpeTrovTo^.^* TavO^ 6 Y{op(Tiva<;

cLKovcra^ iiria-Tevce koX 7rpb<i ra? Biakvaei^ rjBiop

eax^v, ov toctovto, fioi Bo/cel, (pojSo) twv TpiaKo-

(Ticov, oaov dyaaOel^; koX Oavpidaa^ to (ppuvrj/ia

Kol Tr}v dpeTTjv twv 'Vcofiaicov.

TOVTOV TOP dvSpa MOVKIOV OfjLOV Ti irdvTCdv

KoX X/caioTuiv KokovpTcov *A07]v6B(opo<; 6 XdvBo}vo<;

ev Tw irpo<; *0/cTaoviav ttjv KaL<Tapo<; dSeX^tjv

Kal Ôyjrlyovov diVOfxacrOaL (f)^]crLV,

XVIII. *0 fievTOi TloifkiKoka^ at'TO?, ovx ovtcj

TToXe/iLOV ovTa tov TLopalvav âpvv 7)yoviievo<^

ft)9 dîov TToWov Ty TToXet <f)L\ov yeveadai Kal

aviHiaxov, ovk eêvyev eV avTOv Blktj KpiOrjvat,

7r/oo9 TapKviîov, a\V eddppec Kal TrpovKaXeiTO

543

PUBLICOLA, XVII. 3-xviii. i

admiration and released him, and handed him back his

sword, reacliing it down to him from the tribunal.

Mucius stretched out his left hand and took it (onwhich account, they say, he received the surname of

Scaevola, which means Left-handedy Then he said

that although he had conquered the fear whichPorsena inspired, he was vanquished by the nobilitywhich he displayed, and would reveal out of gratitudewhat he would not have disclosed under compulsion." Three hundred Romans, then," said he,

" with the

same resolution as mine, are now prowling about in

thy camp and watching their opportunity. I waschosen by lot to make the first attempt upon thee,and I am not distressed at what has haj)pened, so

noble is the man whom 1 failed to kill, and so worthyto be a friend rather than an enemy of the Romans,"On hearing this, Porsena believed it to be true, andfelt more inclined to come to terms, not so much,I suppose, through fear of the three hundred, as out

of wondering admiration for the lofty spirit and

bravery of the Romans.^All other writers agree in giving this Mucius the

surname of Scaevola, but Athenodorus, the son of

Sandon, in his book addressed to Octavia, the sister

of Augustus Caesar, says that his surname was Pos-

tumus.

XVIII. Publicola himself, moreover, thinking that

Porsena would be more valuable as a friend and allyof the city than he was dangerous as its enemy, did

not shrink from making the king an arbitrator in his

dispute with Tarquin,^ but often boldly challenged

^According to Livy (ii. 13, 1-5), Porsena was so terrified

by the disclosures of Mucius, that he made propositions of

peace to the Romans.

549

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

TToWaKL'^ ft)? eêkiy^cov kclklo-tov avBpcov koX

SiKaLcof; cKâipeOevra rrjv ap^rjv. aTroKpiva/xevov

Be Tov TapKvvLOV Tpa^vrepov, ovheva iroielaOat,

BLKacTTJjv, rjKKTTa he Tlopaivav, el(Tv/j,/jba')(o<;

2 Mv fiera^dWeTaty Bvcrxepdva^ /cal fcarayvovî 6

Tlopa-Lva^;, d/ia Be tou TraiBo^! ÂppovTO<^ Beofievov

KoX (TTTovBdôpTO^ vTTep tS)v ^VoijxalwVi KareXv-

aaTO TOV TToXefjLov eîa-ra/jLevoi^ ?^9 aTrerefiovTO

T/)9 Tvpp7)ViBo<; ')(^copa<; koI tou? alxfJ'OXooTovfs

aTTOTrejjLiTOvai,, Kofjuônevoid Be rov<; avTop,okov^.

iirl TOVTOL<; ofiripov^ eBcoKav ef evirarpiBwv irepL-

TTop^vpovq Bexa koI wapdevov^ roaavraî, o)V

rjv KoX Tlo7r\iKoka Ovydrrjp OvaWepia,XIX. UpaTTOfievcov Be tovtcov tov re Hopclva

TTCLcTav TjBrj Tr]v iro\eiJiifcr]v dveiKOTO'^ irapaaKevr^v

Btd TTuaTiv, at irapdevot tcov ^Vcofxaiwv /caTr]\Oov

eVt XovTpov evda Brj firivoeiBrj^ tl<; ox^V '^^pt--

pdWovaa tov iroTafiov rj(TV')(iav pLaXiara koI

yaXr'iVTjv tov /cvfiaTO^! 'irapel')(ev. co? 5' ovTe 107

Tiva ^vXa/crjv ecapcov ovtc irapiovTaf; dXXa)<; rf

BiairXeovTa^, op/Mrjv e(T')(ov aTrovijâcrOat Trpog

2 pevfxa iroXv Koi Biva<; â6eia<i. evioi Be (fyacri

filav avTcov, ovofxa KXaiXiav, itttto) BieêXdaai

TOV TTopoVy iyKeXevo/jLevrjv tol^ dXXai^ veovaaL<;

Kal TTapaOappvvovaav. eirel Be awdelaai irpo^

TOV TLoTrXtKoXav rjKOVy ov/c iOavjjaaev ovB^ yyd-

TTTja-ev, aXV '^QVidOrj, oti Uopalva KaKiwv iv

iriaTei (pavecTat, koI to ToX/xrjfia tcov irapOevodV

S50

PUBLICOLA, xviii. i-xix. 2

Tarquin to do so, confident of proving that he wasthe basest of men and justly deprived of his king-dom. And when Tarquin gave him a rough answer,

saying that he would make no man his judge, least

of all Porsena, seeing that he was swerving fromhis alliance with him, Porsena was displeased and per-ceived the weakness of his cause. His son Arunsalso pleaded earnestly with him in behalf of the

Romans. Consequently, he put an end to his war

against them, on condition that they gave up the

territory of Tuscany which they had taken, sent

back their prisoners of war, and received back their

deserters. In confirmation of these conditions, the

Romans gave as hostages ten young men from their

noblest families, and as many maidens, of whomValeria, a daughter of Publicola, was one.

XIX. After these stipulations had been carried

out, and when Porsena had already remitted all his

warlike preparations through his confidence in the

treaty, these Roman maidens went down to the river

to bathe, at a place where the curving bank formeda bay and kept the water especially still and free

from waves. As they saw no guard near, nor anyone else passing by or crossing the stream, theywere seized with a desire to swim away, notwith-

standing the depth and whirl of the strong current.

And some say that one of them, named Cloelia,

crossed the stream on horseback, exhorting and

encouraging the rest as they swam. But when theywere come in safety to Publicola, he bestowed noadmiration or affection upon them, but was distressed

because he would be thought less true to his wordthan Porsena, and because the daring exploit of the

maidens would be called a base fraud on the part of

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

alriav eêv KaKovpyqfxa *F(o/JiaLCi)v yeyovevat.

Slo (TvWaffobv avTCi^ iraXiv airidTetXe irpo^ tov

3 Uopalvav. ravra S* ol nrepl tov TapKvviov irpo-

aKTOofxevoi, Kol KaOlcravTe<; iviBpav tol<; dyovaitA? 7ratSa9, eV tw irepav iireOevTO rnrXeiove^ ovre^.

iK€LV(ov Se opuw^ d/JLVvofjiivcov, 77 UoTrXcKoXa

Ovydrijp OvaWepia Bca fiiacov opfirjaaa-a tS>v

ixaxofievcov airi^vyey /cal rpeh rive^ ol/cirai

GwhieKireaovTe^ eacoôv avryv. t5)V S' ak\(t)v

ovK aKivSvvco<; avafie/xtyfjiivcov to2<; fxa')ôfievoL<i,

al06p,€vo<; "Appcov 6 Tiopaiva vlb<; ofeco? irpoae-

porjdrjae, KoX ^vyrj<; yevo/jiivT]^ rcbv iroXefJiLcov

7r€pL€7roLrj(T6 Tou? 'FwfiaLov;.

4 'n? Se Ta9 nTap6evov<i K0[jLia6eiaa<i HopaCvaêlBe, rrju Karapâfiivyv tt}? nrpdêco^ Kal irapa-

Kekeuaa/jiivTjv rah aXXat9 iî'jret. aKovaa^ he

TO ovojxa Trj<i KXotXia^ Trpoae/SXeyjrev avrrjv XXew

Kal (jâtSpat tw irpoacoiTa), Kal KeXevaaao-iv, dXXa TifJirjaai to

dvBpayBe^; avT7]<; rbv Tvpprjvov, dvaKeiraL Be ttjv

lepav oBbv 7ropevo/j,evoL<; eh UaXdriov dvBpia^

avT7]<; eîTTTTo^y ov Ttv€<; ov T^9 K.XoiXLa<;, dXXa

TTJ^ OuaXXepLa<; elvai Xeyovaiv.'O Be Tiopaiva^ BiaXXayeU T0i9 *F(o/j,aloif;

552

PUBLICOLA, XIX. 2-5

the Romans. He seized them, therefore, and sent

them back again to Porsena. But Tarquin and his

men got timely intelligence of this, set an ambushfor the convoy of the maidens, and attacked them in

superior numbers as they passed along. The partyattacked defended themselves, nevertheless, and

Valeria, the daughter of Publicola, darted throughthe combatants and fled, and with the help of three

attendants who broke through the crowd with her,

made good her escape. The rest of the maidens

were mingled with the combatants and in peril of

their lives. But Aruns, the son of Porsena, learningof the affair, came with all speed to their assistance,

put their enemies to flight, and rescued the

Romans.When Porsena saw the maidens thus brought

back, he asked for the one who had begun the

enterprise and encouraged the rest in it. And whenhe heard Cloelia named as the one, he looked uponher with a gracious and beaming countenance, and

ordering one of the royal horses to be brought, all

fittingly caparisoned, he made her a present of it.

Those who say that Cloelia, and Cloelia alone, crossed

the river on horseback, produce this fact in evidence.

Others dispute the inference, and say that the

Tuscan merely honoured in this way the maiden's

courage. But an equestrian statue of her stands bythe Via Sacra, as you go to the Palatine, thoughsome say it represents not Cloelia, but Valeria.^

Porsena, thus reconciled with the Romans, gave^According to Livy, who gives a very different version

of the Cloelia episode (ii. 13, 6-11), the maidens were

incited by the example of Mucins to their display of courage,in memory of which the Romans erected at the top of the

Via Sacra an equestrian statue,'*

virgo insidens equo."

553

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

oWtjv re eavTov iroWrjv fieyd\o(l)poavvr)v evre-

Belâro rrj iroXei, kov to, oirXa rou? Tvpprjvoij^6 dvaXa/Selv Ke\ev(Ta<;, dWo Se [xrjZev, a)OC eK\el-

TTEiv Tov 'XâpaKa aijov re iroWvv koX ')(^pT]fidTQ)v

yifiovra iravroSaircop, irapehwKe rot? rcofiaioi,^;.

Slo Kol Ka0* rjfia^ en ircoXovvre^ ra Brj/JLOcna

TTpcora f€7]pvTT0vaL ra Uopaiva ')(^p^/jLaTa, ri/jLrjv

Tft) dvBpl T?}? ')(^dpiro<^ diSiov ev rrj fiv^/Jirj Bta-

(pv\dTTOiT€<;. elaTTjKei Be koL 'âX/cov'; dvBpLa<;avTOV irapa to ôvXevrrjpiov, avrXoO? kol dp-

XCLLKO'; rfi epyacria.XX. Mera Be ravra âîvcov efiâXovTcov

ei9 T?7i^ ')((U)pav viraro^ fiev direBei'x^drj Mdp/co^

OvaWepLOf;, dB€\(f)b<^ TLoTrXiKoXa, fcal Hoarov-

fXLo^ Tov^6pTo<;. TLpaTTo/j-evcov Be tmv /jLeyiarcov

<yv(o/jL7j Koi irapovaia TioirXiKoXa Bval/jLd-)(ai,<;

fieydXai^ 6 Mdp/co^ evLKtiaev, wv ev rf) Bevrepa

/jLTjBeva ^PwfjLaLcov diroâXcbv TpLa')(^LXiov^ eVt

2 p,vpioi(i Tcov TToXefiicov dvetXe. koX yepa<^ ^<^X^îirl Tot<; 6ptdfjLô:<; oLKuav avrco yeieaOat BT]fioaLOt<;

dpaXcofiaaiv iv TLaXaria). tcov S' dXXcov rore

Ovpcjv e'laay rrjf; oiKLa^; et? to KXeiaiov dvoiyo-

fi&vcoVj eKeiv7]<; fji6vr)<; tt)? oLKia^ eiroirjaav eKTO<;

cLTrdyeaOai rr)v avXeiov, (09 Br) Kara ro avyx^-prjfia rr]LKa<; irporepov ovrcd^ ^X^^^ dirdaa^

XeyovcTLV, diro rwv Kco/mrpSiMV Xa/Li/3uiôvT€<;, onKOTTTOvai Kal ylrocpovat rd<; aurcbv Ovpa<; evBoBev

ol irpoievai fxeXXovre^;, ottw^ aLcrfftjcriq €^m yevoirorol<i irapep)(piJiivoL^ rj irpoearctxTL Kal

fx-q Kara-

554

PUBLICOLA, XIX. 5-xx. 3

the city many proofs of his magnanimity. In

particular, he ordered his Tuscan soldiers, when theyevacuated their camp, to take with them their arms

only, and nothing else, leaving it full of abundant

provisions and all sorts of valuables, which he turned

over to the Romans. Therefore it is that down to

this very day, when there is a sale of public property,Porsena's goods are cried first, and thus the man's

kindness is honoured with perpetual remembrance.

Moreover, a bronze statue of him used to stand near

the senate-house, of simple and archaic work-

manship.iXX. After this, when the Sabines invaded the

Roman territory, Marcus Valerius, a brother of

Publicola, was made consul, and with him Postumius

Tubertus. Inasmuch as the most important stepswere taken with the advice and assistance of

Publicola, Marcus was victorious in two great battles,

and in the second of them, without losing a single

Roman, slew thirteen thousand of the enemy.^Besides his triumphs, he also obtained the honour of

a house built for him at the public charge on the

Palatine. And whereas the doors of other houses at

that time opened inwards into the vestibule, theymade the outer door of his house, and of his alone,to open outwards, in order that by this concession

he might be constantly partaking of public honour.

They say that all Greek doors used to openoutwards in tliis way, and the conclusion is drawnfrom their comedies, where those who are about to

go out of a house beat noisily on the inside of their

own doors, in order that persons passing by or

standing in front of them may hear, and not be

^ Cf. Livy, ii. 14, 1-4. » Cf. Livy, ii. 16, 1.

555

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

XafijSdvoiVTO irpoiovaai^ rat? fcXeiaidcnv eh top

(TTevcoTrov.

XXI, Tft) ^' i^rjf; eret ttoXiv vTrdreve IIoTrXt-

KoXa'i TO rirapTov rjv Be TrpoahoKia TroXefiov

â/Stvcov Kol AuTLVcov (TWiaTafjiivcop. /cal rt?

dfia Beto-iBaifiovia rrj^ 7roXe&)9 Tj^jraro' iraaai yapat Kvovaat, rore yuvaLKe<; iîâWov dvdirrjpa,

Kal Te\o9 ovBep,ia yeveaL^ ea')(€v. 66ev i/c rcov 108

'î/SuWeCayv 6 TloTrXiKoXa^ IXaa-dfzevo^: Ta> "AlBtj

KaC TLva^ dya)va<; 7rv6oxpt]crTov^ dvaXa^cov kol

Tat9 iXiricrt. irpo^ to Oelov r)Biova KaraaTrjcra^

TTJV TToXlV, T]87J TOt? ttTT* dvOpCOTTCOV (f)0^€pol<;

Trpocretê. fieydXr} yap i(j>aLveTO KaraaKcvr) tmv

TToXe/jLicov Kal GvcjTadv^.

2 "^tiv ovv "Attttlo'; KXavao^ ev âpivoL^, avrjp

')(^prjp.aaL re Bvvaro^ koI a'd)/jiaTO<! pcopLy 7ryoo9

dXKr)V i7ri(f>av7]<;, dp€Trj<; Be Bo^y p^dXiara kc^

Xoyov BecvoTTjTi irpcorevcov. o Be Trdai crvp^âivet

Tot? pêyaXoif; ov lie<f>vye iraOelv, dXX* i(pOoveLTO'

Kal T0t9 <j>Oovov(nv alrcav Trapecrx^ KaraTravwv

Tov TToXep.ov av^t;iv rd ^Vaypuiiwv, iirl rvpavvlBi

3 Kal BovXu}(Tei Ti]<; 7raTpiBo<;, alad6p€vo<i Be tou?

X070U9 TOUTOf9 povXopev(p Tw irXijdec Xeyopêvov^,

Kal irpocTKpovovTa rolî TroXepôTroLol^ Kal arpa-TLWTiK0l<^ eaVTOV, i(f)0^€LTO TrjV KpLdlV. €Taip€Lav

Be Kal BvvapLiv iîXcov Kal ol/celcov exôv up.v^

S56

PUBLICOLA, XX. 3-xxi. 3

taken by surprise when the doors open out into the

street.

XXI. In the following year Publicola was consul

again^ for the fourth time, when there was expec-tation of a war with the Sabines and Latins com-bined.^ At the same time also a sort of superstitiousterror seized upon the city because all the womenwho were pregnant were delivered of imperfect

offspring, and all births were premature. Wherefore,

by direction of the Sibylline books, Publicola made

propitiatory sacrifices to Pluto, and renewed certain

games that had been recommended by Apollo, andafter he had thus made the city more cheerful in its

hopes and expectations from the gods, he turnedhis attention to what it feared from men. For their

enemies were plainly making great preparations anda powerful league against them.Now there was among the Sabines one Appius

Clausus,2 a man whose wealth made him powerful,as his personal prowess made him illustrious, butwho was most eminent for his lofty character andfor his great eloquence. He could not, however,escape the fate of all great men, but was an objectof jealous hate, and when he tried to stop the war,those who hated him charged him with trying to

increase the power of Rome, with a view to makinghimself tyrant and master of his own country.Perceiving that the multitude gave a ready ear to

these stories, and that he himself was obnoxious to

the war party and the military, he feared the issue,but with a large and powerful cotsrie of friends and

*Livy gives a very brief account of this war (ii. 16, 2-6).

2 Attius Clausus among the Sabines, Appius Claudius

among the Romans, according to Livy, ii, 16, 4.

VOL. I. X 557

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

vovaav irepl avrbv iaraaiaê. koX tovt tjv rov

TToXe/jLOV Biarpi^rj koI fieWrjai^ TOt? âjSivoi^;.

4 TauT* ovv 6 UoTrXiKoXa^; ov jmovov elhivat

TTOLovfjievo^ epyov, dWa koI Kivetv koX avve^-

opfidv rr]v ardcrtv, elêv dvSpa^ eTTLjrjhetovi ol

Tw KXava-qy SieXiyovTo Trap* avrov roiavra, ft)9

o UoTrXiKoXa^; dvBpa ae 'x^prjarop ovra Kal hiKaiov

ovSevl KttKU) BeXv ocerai rou? aeavTov TroXtra?

dfivveaOai, KaiTrep dSi/cov/xevov el Se ôvkoio

(Tco^cov iavTOV fJberaaTrjvai kol ^vyeiv rov? fii-

(Tovvra^, L'TToSeferat ae BrjfjLoo-la koX IBua r?}? re

0-979 dp€T7J<; d^Lco(; kol tt)? 'Vayfiaicov Xa/MirpoTTjro^,5 ravra 7roWd/ci<; dvacTKoirovvri tw KXavaa /SeX-Tiara t(ov dvay/calcov e(j)aiveTo, Kal tov<; <f)i\,ov^

av/MTrapa/caXcoVy eKeivwv re iroWov'^ ofiolax;

(TvvavaTTeiOovTCdv , 7TevTaKL(7')(^Lkiov<i OLKov<; dva-

(TTrjaa^ fierd iraiBwv kol jvvatKcov, oirep -^v eV

â/3ivoi,(; dOopvôv /idXcara koX ^lov irpdov koI

KaOearSiTO^; olKelov, eh 'Vwp^rjv rjye, 7rpoei,B6TO<frov TioTrXiKoXa Ka\ Bexo/jiivov <pLXo(f)p6vco<i kol

6 iTpo6vfjLa)^ iirl irdcrt, BiKaLoc<;. tou? fiev yapoIkov<; evOi)^ dvefiiê tw TToXnevpâri, Kal x^P^^direveifxev e/cacrra) Bvelv irXeOpcov irepl rov Avl-(ova TTorafiop, tw Be K.Xai)<T(p irXeOpa Trevre KaleXKOGi 7779 eBcoKev, avrov Be rjj SovXfj nrpocre-

ypayjrev, dpxv^ iroXireia^ Xa/jL0dvovra ravrrjv,

fi ;)^yoco/x€^'09 e/jL(f)p6va)

SS8

PUBLICOLA, XXI. 3-xxn. i

kinsmen to defend him, continued his opposition.This made the Sabines put off and delay the war.

Publicola, accordingly, making it his business not

only to know about these matters, but also to fomentand promote the faction, kept some of his followers

employed in bringing to Clausus from him such

messages as this :" Publicola thinks thee too worthy

and just a man to inflict any evil upon thy fellow

citizens in self-defence, even though thou art

wronged by them. But if thou wishest, for thine

»wn safety, to change thine allegiance and flee fromthose who hate thee, he will receive thee with publicand private honours which are worthy of thine ownexcellence and the splendour of Rome." On repeatedconsideration of the matter, this course seemed to

Clausus the best that was open to him ; he therefore

summoned his friends, who in like manner persuadedmany more, to join him, and taking five thousandfamilies from their homes, wives and children in-

cluded, the most peaceful folk among the Sabines, of

gentle and sedate lives, he led them to Rome.Publicola knew beforehand of their coming, and

gave them an eager and a kindly welcome, admittingthem to all rights and privileges. For he at once

incorporated the families in the Roman state, and

[gave each one two acres of land on the river Anio.To Clausus, however, he gave twenty-five acres of

land, and enrolled him among the senators. Thiswas the beginning of a political power which he usedso wisely that he mounted to the highest dignity and

acquired great influence. The Claudian family, whichis descended from him, is no less illustrious than anyin Rome.

XXII. Though the schism among the Sabines was

VOL. I. J 2 559

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fi€roiKi,a/if2> Tcov dvBpcov, ov/c eXacrav ol Br]fiay(0'

yovvreî drpefiyjaai /cat Karaarfjvai, axerXid-foi/T€9 el KXavao<; a irapcov ovk eireta-e Biairpd-

êrai <t)vyd<s yev6pLevo<i koI TroXifiw;, /jlt)Bovvai

Blktjv 'lPcojJLaiov<; o)v v^pilôvcnv. dpavTe<i ovv

(TTparcp jjLeydXcp irepX îBrjva'i /carrjvXLo-avTO, Kau

TLva \6)(pv difiepoi irpo tt}? *lPd)/J,r)<;iv

')((i)pioi<i

avPTjpecpecri koI kolXol<; BiaxtXiovf; oirXira^, e/ieX'

Xov dfi rjpiepa (pav6pw<i oki<yoL<i linreva-t, Xeiav iXav-

2 V61V. elprjTO 8* avrol^;, orav rfj iroXei irpoaeXd'aoicnv, v7T0(j)€vyeiv €&)9 i/JLjSdXcoaiv eh rrjv eveBpavTou? TToXepiLov^' ravB* 6 lioTrXLKoXaî avOi]p,€pov

irvdojJLevo'i irap avTOfjLoXoov T(i)(y BiyppLocraTO tt/jo?

irdvra kol Bievet/jLe rrjv BvvafiLV. Tloo-rov/jLto^

fjL6v yap BaXySo9 6 yajJL^p6<i avrov rpia-)(î,XLoi<i

oTrXtrat? ecnTepa<i ert irpoeXOcov koI /cara-

XaôDV TOV<i dfcpoX6(j)ov^, v(f)* oh evrjBpevov ol

3 lafilvoi,, irapecpvXaTTev' 6 Be awdp^fov Aov-

KprjTLo^ ex(ov TO KovôTarov iv t§ iroXei xal

yevvaioTarov erdx^V tol<; iXavvovai rrjv Xelav

liTTrevcnv einx'^tpetv, avrb<; Be ttjv dXXrjv dva-

Xa^cbv (TTpariav kvkX(o irepirjXOe tou? TroXe/jLLov^,

KOL Kord TVX^W O/JLLX^V^ ffaOelaf; e7Ti,7re(Touari<;,

irepl opOpov dpxt HocTovp^Lo^ re tou? eveBpev- 109ovTa<i ep,$orjaa^ ejSaXev dirb tojv d/cpcov, koX Toh

irpoiiT'iTacrapLevoL'i icprJKe tov<; irepl avrov 6 Aov-

KprjTLO'i, Kal lioirXiKoXa^ irpocreâXe rot? arpaTO-4 TreSot? TCOV iroXep.lcov. irdvrr) /nev ovv i/caKovro

rd 'Eaîvcov fcal Bce(f)0eLpeTO' TOv<i S* evravOa /j,r)B^

d/jLvvo/xevovfif dXXd (pevyovra^;, evOv^ e/creivov ol

*Fco/jLaloi, T^9 eXirlBo^ avToh oXedpicoTaTi]^ yevo-

560

PUBLICOLA, XXII. 1-4

thus removed by the emigration of these men, their

popular leaders would not suffer them to settle

own into quiet, but complained bitterly that

Clausus, by becoming an exile and an enemy, should

bring to pass what he could not effect by his per-suasions at home, namely, that Rome pay no penaltyfor her outrages. Setting out, therefore, with a large

army, they encamped near Fidenae, and placed twothousand men-at-arms in ambush just outside of

Rome in wooded hollows. Their intention was that

a few of their horsemen, as soon as it was day,should boldly ravage the country. But these hadbeen ordered, whenever they approached the cityand were attacked, to retire gradually until they haddrawn the enemy into the ambuscade. That very

day Publicola learned of this plan from deserters,and took measures accordingly, dividing up his

forces. Postumius Balbus, his son-in-law, while it

was yet evening, went out with three thousand men-

at-arms, occupied the hills under which the Sabineswere lying in ambush, and kept the enemy underobservation ; Lucretius, his colleague, retaining in

the city the lightest armed and most impetuoustroops, was ordered to attack the enemy's horsemenas they ravaged the country ; he himself took therest of the army and encircled the enemy in their

camp. Favoured by a heavy fog, at break of dayPostumius, with loud shouts, fell upon the ambuscadefrom the heights, while Lucretius hurled his troops

upon the horsemen when they rode towards the city,and Publicola attacked the camp of the enemy. At all

points, then, the Sabines were worsted and undone.Wherever they were, they made no defence, but

fled, and the Romans straightway slew them. The

56i

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

fiivf)^, acoêo-dat fyctp olofievoi tou? €T€pov<; oi

erepoi Ta> fidêcrOai koI fiiveiv ov 'irpoael')(pv,

aXV ol jiev CK rcov ipvp^drcov 7Tpo<; rov^ iveSpev-5 ovra^, ol Bk iraXiv co? eKeivov^ eh to GTparo-

TreSov 6eovre<i ivavTLOi (pevyovo-tv iveTTLirrov irpo^

01)9 cipevyov koI ÔTjdela^ B€Ofiivoi,<; ov<; rfKiriôv

auTOfc? ôrjOrjcreLV, to Be fir) rrravTa^ diroXeadaL

TO 1)9 Xa/3Lvov<;, dWa /cat TrepiyeviaOai rivd^ rj

îBijvaTcov 7roXt9 6771^9 ovo-a nrapeaêy kol

fjudXtcTTa T0t9 eK tmv a-TparoTreBcoVy off rjXiaKeTOy

BieKTrLTTTOvaiv. 0(701 Be îByvcov BirujuapTov Sie-

<j)ddp7)crav 7) ^covreî dTTri')(9r)<Tav viro tcov \a,66vTa)V.

XXIII. TouTO TO KaropOwpia 'Fco/iacoi, KaiirepelcoOoTe^ aTraai T0i9 pêydXoi^ iTrKprjpbCêLv to Bai-

fiovcov, 6z^09 epyov r^yovvro rod cTTparrjyov yeyo-vevau Koi tcov /nepâxv/^^^^^^ irpSiTOV rjv aKoveiv

OTi ')((o'kov<; Kot TV(f)\ou<i avTOL^ Kol pôvov ov

KuOeipâ^; tol'9 7roXeyLttou9 Ilo7r\cK6\a<; irapeBcoKe

Xprjo'Oai Tol<; ^[(pecTiv. ippcocrdrj Be koX xPVf^ccaiv6 B7]po<; e/c TCOV Xacpvpcov kol tcov al'X^paXcoTcov.

2 'O ê Ilo7r\i/c6\a<; tov Te 6piap,ôv dyayoavkclI T0A9 psT avTov aTToBei^Qeldiv virdToi^ irapa-Bov<; TTjv TToXiv ev6v<; eTeXevTrjcrev, ox; iîKTovecTTLV dv0p(O7roi<; pd\i<TTa to?9 V€VopLi(Tp,evoi<; xa-

Xot9 Kal dyadol'^y tov eavTOu îov iKTeXeicoaa^;.

6 Be Brjpio^ axTTTep ovBev €i9 ^covTa tcov dî'cov

7re7roir]Kct)<;, dWd irdcrav ocpeiXcov ')(dptv, iyjry^cpL-

aaTO Bi^pboaici Ta^rjvai to (Tcop,a, koI TeTapTTj-3 pôptov e/caaTov iirl Tip>y avveLcrevey/celv. at Be

56a

PUBLICOLA, XXII. 4-xxiii. 3

very hopes they placed in one another proved mostfatal to them. For each party, supposing that the

other was safe, had no thought of holding their

ground and fighting, but those in the camp ran

towards those in tiie ambuscade, while these, ontheir part, ran to those in the camp, so that fugitivesencountered fugitives, and found those needingsuccour from whom they expected succour them-selves. And all the Sabines would have perished,had not the neighbouring city of Fidenae afforded a

refuge to some, especially to those who fled from the

camp when it was captured. All who did not gainthis city were either slain or brought back to Romeas prisoners.

XXIII. This success the Romans, although theywere wont to attribute all such great events to theinfluence of the gods, considered to be the work of

their general alone. And the first thing his soldiers

were heard to say was that Publicola had delivered

their enemies into their hands lame, blind, and all

but imprisoned, to be dispatched by their swords.

Great wealth also accrued to the people from the

spoils and prisoners.But PubHcola, immediately after celebrating his

triumph and handing the city over to the consuls

appointed to succeed him, died. So far as it can

possibly be achieved by men who are regarded as

honourable and good, he had brought his life to

perfection. The people, as if they had done nothingto show their esteem for him while he was alive, butowed him every homage, decreed that his bodyshould be buried at the public charge, and that

every man should contribute a quadrans towards thehonour. The women also^ by private agreement

5^3

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

yvvatK€<;, Ihla 7r/?09 avra<; avfjucfypovijaaaai, hieirev-

dycrav eviavTOV oXov iwl rw avhpl irevOo'^ evrifiov

Kol îjXcorov. irdcf)!] Be /col ovTco<i rodv ttoXitoov

\jrrj(j)taa/jL€va)V ivr6<; aareo^ irapa rrjv /caXov-

fievTjv OveXiav, Morre /cat yivei iravrX t?}9 Ta(j)7]<;

/jb€T€LvaL. vvv Se daTTTerai jxev ovhel^ rcov diro

yevov;, KOfJuicravTe^ he tov ve/cpov ixel Karari-

Oevrat koX BaSd Ti? rjfjL/jLevjjv XajScov oaov virrj-

veyKeVt elra dvaipetTat,, juLaprvpo/xevo'^ ^py^ '^^

eêlvai, (pelSeaOai Be ttj^ ti^ltj^, koI tov veKpovOVTW^ dTTOKO/jLLÔVCTlV.

20Af2NOS KAI nOHAIKOAA 2YrKPI2l2

I. 'A/3* ovv cBiov TL irepX TavTTjv Tr)v (TvyKpidiv

VTrdpxet^ zeal fii) irdvv crvfiffe/3r]K6<; erepa tmv

dvajeypa/jLfjL€V(i)v, tov CTepov yeyovkvai jjbLfjbrjTr^v

TOV eTepov, tov CTepov Be fidpTw; 6pa yap f/v

6 %6Xwv e^r]veyK€ irepl evSai/novLaf; diroâaiv

7r/309 KpoL(Tov, ft)9 UoTrXiKoXo, fjuaXkov r) TeXXw2 TTpo(jr]Kei' TeWou piev ydp, ov elire yeyovevai

fiaKapiMTaTov Bi evnoT/jLiav koX dpcTrjv xal ev-

Te/cviav, OUT avT0<; ev tol<: TroLtjpiaaiv w? dvBp6<;

dyaOov Xoyov eax^v ovt6 TratSe? out dp^V Ti?

€49 Boâv rjXOev' YioirXtKoXxi^ Be /cal ^wv eirpo)-

T€vae Bwdfjuei /cal Bo^j) Bl dp€Tr)v ^PcofjuaicoVy kol

1 **Ib the following year, Agrippa Menemus and P,

Postumius being consuls, P. Valerius, by universal consentthe foremost Roman in the arts of war and peace, died, in

the height of his glory, but so poor that means to defray his

SOLON AND PUBLICOLA, i. 1-2

amongst themselves, mourned a whole year for him,with a mourning which was honourable and enviable.^

He was buried, too, by express vote of the citizens,

within the city, near the so called Velia,^ and all his

family were to have privilege of burial there. Now,however, none of the family is actually buried there,but the body is carried thither and set down, andsome one takes a burning torch and holds it underthe bier for an instant, and then takes it away,attesting by this act that the deceased has the rightof burial there, but relinquishes the honour. After

this the body is borne away.

COMPARISON OF SOLON AND PUBLICOLA

L There is, then, something peculiar in this

comparison, and something that has not been true

of any other thus far, namely, that the second

imitated the first, and the first bore witness for the

second. For it must be plain that the verdict concern-

ing happiness which Solon pronounced to Croesus, is

more applicable to Publicola than to Tellus. Tellus,whom Solon pronounced the most blessed man he

knew, because of his fortunate lot, his virtue, and his

goodly offspring, was not celebrated in Solon's poemsas a good man, nor did his children or any magistracyof his achieve a reputation ; whereas Publicola, while

he lived, was foremost among the Romans in in-

funeral expenses were lacking. He was therefore buried atthe public charge, and the matrons mourned for him as theyhad done for Bruius" (Livy, ii. 16, 7).

2 See chapter x. 2.

S65

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

redvrjKoroî iv roU eTnâvea-rdToi'i yeveai koI

(TTefiixaaiv en KaO' r]fjia<; HoTrXiKoXai fcal Mecr-

adXai /cat OvaWepioi Bt ircjv eâKoaicov tt}?

3 €vy6V€ia<i rrjv Boâv dvacftepovai. /cal TeXA.09 fiev

V7T0 t6)v TToXe/jLLwv ft)? dvr)p dja0b<; iv rdêt,

fievwv Kol fjiaxofJêvo^ fcaTiarpeyjre' IIoTrXfcytoXa?

Be Tov<i fiev TToXe/itou? Kreivas, o rov Trea-elv

evTvêarepov iari,, rrjv Be irarplBa viKoiaav

eTTiBcbv Bt avTov dp'XpvTa kol o-rparrjyovvra,

Tifi7)d€l<{ Be KOL 0pLa/ji/3€vaa<; ervê tt;? i^rfKoV'

fjiivi]<iVTTO SoXftjiô? KoX fjia/€apLô/jL€vrj<; reXeurij^;.

4 ert TOLVuv 0*9 7rp6<; Mi/ivep/jiov dvreiTrcov irepi

')(^p6vov ^corj^ eiTLiTeôi)vr}Ket

M.TjBe fjboi aKXavoTTO^ 6dvaT0<! fioXoi,dXXd

(îXoLai

7roL7]aai/Jbi Oavoav dXyea koI (nova')(^d^,

evBaifXOva rov YloirXifcoXav avBpa iroieZ, TeXev- 110

rr)(Ta6tav e'^'aura> Trapiaêv at yap 'Pftj-

fialcov yvvaiKe<; eTievOr^crav avrov axrirep vlov rj

5 dBeXôv rj irarepa koivov diroâXovo-ai.*'

^prj-

fiara 8' Ifieipco fxev eyeiVy^ <j)Tjalv 6 SoXcov,"dhiKco^

Be ireiraadaL ovk iOeXo)*' &)9 BiKr)(; i7riou(Tr]<i*

TLoTrXiKoXa 8' VTrrjpêv ov jjlovov firj Ka/cco^

TrXovTclv, aXX^ kol AraXw? dvaXlcTKeiv ev ttoiovvti

T0U9 Beo/ievovf;. coaT el ao(f)a)raTO<; aTrdvTcov 6

XoXwVy evBaijjLoveaTarof; 6 IIoTrXt/coXa?. a ydpevâro twv dyaOoop itcelvo^ 0)9 fieyicTTa /cat

566

SOLON AND PUBLTCOLA, i. 2-5

fluence and repute for virtue, and since his death the

most ilhistrious family lines of our own day, like the

Publicolae, the Messalae, and the Valerii, have for

six hundred years ascribed the glory of their noble

birth to him. Tellus, moreover, though he kept his

post and fought like a brave man, died at the handsof his enemies ;

whereas Publicola slew his enemies,which is a better fortune than to be slain by them,saw his country victorious through his efforts as

consul and general, and enjoyed honours and triumphsbefore he came to the end which Solon pronouncedso enviable and blest. Still further, what Solon saysto Mimnermus,^ in arguing with him on the properduration of human life,

"May not an unlamented death be mine, but unto

friends

Let me be cause, when dead, for sorrow and for

sighing,"

argues Publicola a happy man. For when he died,his loss filled not only friends and kindred, butthe entire city, numbering many tens of thousands,with weeping and yearning and sorrow. For thewomen of Rome mourned for him as though theyhad lost a son, or a brother, or a common father." Wealth I desire to have," says Solon,

" but wrong-fully to get it, I do not wish,"

2believing that

punishment would follow. And Publicola's wealthwas not only not ill got, but also nobly spent in

benefactions to the needy. So that if Solon wasthe wisest, Publicola was the most happy of men,since what Solon prayed for as the greatest and

1Fragment 21 (Bergk),

? See Solon, ii. 3.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

KaXKiara, ravra koI KTritraaOai TloirXiKoXa Ka\

(pvXdâi ')(^pcofi6va) fii^pt Ti\ov<; VTTTjpêv.

II. OvTco fxev 6 XoXojv KeKoa-jxr^Ke rov TLottXi-

KoXav, Tov ^6Xo)va S* av iraXiv eicelvo^ iv rfj

TToXcTeia TrapaBeiyfidrcov KoXXcarov dvSpl ko^

fffiovvTi Brj/io/cparlav Oifievo^S' rrj<; p,ev yhp dp)(ri'^

rov o^KOv diêXoiv evfievrj irdai koi oXvttov Kar-

ecTTTâe, vopLOL^ he 7roWoL<; i^PV^^'f^To rcov iKelvov.

Ka\ yap dp')(ovTO)V KaraaTdaecof; Kvpiov^ iiroiyjae

Tov^ 7roXXov<;, koI to?? (f)evyov(TL Uktjv e-mKaXel-

ordai rov hrj/jLov, coarrep 6 ôXcov rov^ Bifcaardf;,

eSoyKC. Kal ôvXrjv fiev erepav ovk iiroirjaei',

wairep 6 ôiXwv, rrjv 5* oZaav rjv^rja-ev dpiOfiw2 fiiKpov SiTrXaacdaa^. rj re rav ra/jLCcov irrl rot?

')(prjixaai Kardaraai^ iiceWev rfxdevy ottoj? o

ap')((ov firjr el 'X^priaro^ iartv dGyoXlav exj) irpo^

rd yLtetfo), fi'^r el âv\o<; d(f)op/jLd<; rov dBiKelv

fidXXov, KoX rwv rrpdêcov koi rwv %/3>7/AaTa)i'

Kvpioo<;. to Be fiia-orvpavvov iv ro)

HoirXiKoXa a-(f)oBp6repov. el ydp rt? iTrtxîpoir)

rvpavvelv, 6 fiev dXovrt, rrjv Blktjv iirirlOrjaiVy 6

3 Be /cal TTpo T?}? Kpicrew^ dveXetv BiBcoaL, <Tep,vv-

vofievov Be rov 'ZoXcovo'^ 6p9(o UoTrXtKoXa rb Xaôvra

rvpavvtf^rjv dp-^V^ Trou/crat BijfjLorihoyrepav Kal

fi-qB^ oU i^rjv exovra XP^^^^^^^* '^^^ touto 8'

S68

'^OLON AND PUBLICOLA, i. 5-11. 3

fairest of blessings, these Publicola was privileged to

win and continue to enjoy until the end.

II. Thus did Solon enhance the fame of Publicola.

And Publicola, too, in his political activities, enhancedthe fame of Solon, by making him the fairest of

examples for one who was arranging a democracy.For he took away the arrogant powers of the consul-

ship and made it gracious and acceptable to all, andhe adopted many of Solon's laws. For instance, he

put the appointment of their rulers in the power of

the people, and gave defendants the right of ap-

pealing to the people, as Solon to the jurors. Hedid not, indeed, create a new senate, as Solon did,

but he increased the one already existing to almost

double its numbers. And his appointment of

quaestors over the public moneys had a like origin.Its purpose was that the consul, if a wortliy officer,

might not be without leisure for his more importantduties, and, if unworthy, might not have greater

opportunities for injustice by having both the ad-

ministration and the treasury in his hands. Hatredof tyranny was more intense in Publicola than in

Solon. For in case any one attempted to usurp the

power, by Solon's law he could be punished onlyafter conviction, whereas Publicola made it lawful to

kill him before any trial. Moreover, though Solon

rightly and justly plumes himself on rejectingabsolute power even when circumstances offered

it to him and his fellow-citizens were willing that heshould take it, it redounds no less to the honour of

Publicola that, when he had received a tyrannical

power, he made it more democratic, and did not use

even the prerogatives which were his by right of

possession. And of the wisdom of such a course

569

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

eoiKe (TUVLêlv irporepo*; 6 XoXcov, on Sijfio^

(oh av dpicrra avv '^ycfiovecraiv eVoiTO,

fifjre Xirjv avedeh ^JLrjTe inetôfievo^,

III. "Ihiov Be rod ^6\o)vo<; r) tcov XP^^^ aveai^y y

fjidXicTTa TTjv ekevOepiav ipeâiwa-e roZ? TToXirai,^.

ovSev yap o<f)6\o^ vo/acov laorrjTa TrapeyovToaVy

y)v d<j)at,pelTai rd %/oea tov<; irevrjTa^' dXX orrov

fidXicrra 'x^prjaOat rfj ekevOepia Bo/covcri, Bov-

7i£vovai fidXiara tol<; 7r\ovaioi<;, iv Ta> Biicdêiv

KaX dpx^LV KoX Xeyeiv iTriTarTo/jbevoi fcal virrjpe-

2 T0VVT69. TOVTOV Be pLelôv, oTt irdarj %/3e&)i^ diro-

Koirfi <nd<Tea)<i iiro/Mivrj^;, e/ceivrj fjuovrj, KaOdirep

(papfiaKO) TrapajSoXo) jxiv, lax^pw Be xPV^d/jU€vo<;

ev/caipcot;, xal rrjv ovaav ardcTLv eXvae, rfj irepl

avrbv dperfi koX Bo^rj rrj<; rod irpdyfiaro^ dBoîa<;

KoX BiaôXrjf; 7r€piy€v6fjL€Vo<;,

T^9 B' 6\7]<; TToXirelaî rfj fjuev dpxfl Xapurpo-

repo^ 6 %6Xa)v ^yijcraro yap Kal ovtc rjKoXovOTjae,

KaX KaO* avTov, ov fieO* erepcov, eirpaê rd irXelcrra

Kal jjuiyiara rcov koivcjv rw reXei Be drepo^3 evrvxv'^ icaX îjXcorof;, rr)v fiev ydp 2oXft)z/o9

iToXireiav avro<; eirelBe %6X(ov KaraXvOelaav, rj

Be TloTrXtKoXa p-^XP^ "^^^ ep.(f)vXi(ov rroXepwv

Bie^vXaêv iv Koa-fjicp rt]v ttoXcv 6 p.ev ydp dp.a

rw JiaOai tou? vopôu^ diroXiTToov iv ûXoi<; Kal

570

SOLON AND PUBLICOLA, ii. 3-111. 3

Solon seems to have been conscious even before

Publicola, when he says^ that a people

" then will yield the best obedience to its

guidesWhen it is neither humoured nor oppressed too

much."

III. Peculiar to Solon was his remission of debts^and by this means especially he confirmed the

liberties of the citizens. For equality under the

laws is of no avail if the poor are robbed of it bytheir debts. Nay, in the very places where they are

supposed to exercise their liberties most, there theyare most in subjection to the rich, since in the courts

of justice, the offices of state, and in public debates,

they are under their orders and do them service.

And what is of greater moment here, thoughsedition always follows an abolition of debts, in

this case alone, by employing opportunely, as it

were, a dangerous but powerful medicine, Solon

actually put an end to the sedition that was already

rife, for his own virtue and high repute prevailedover the ill-repute and odium of the measure.

As regards their political careers in general,Solon's was more brilHant in the beginning. Forhe led the way and followed no man, and it wasalone and without colleagues that he effected the

most and greatest of his public measures. But in

the ending, the other was more fortunate andenviable. For Solon lived to see with his own eyesthe dissolution of his polity, while that of Publicola

preserved order in the city down to the civil wars.

Solon, as soon as he had made his laws, left them*Fragment 6 (Bergk) ; cf. Aristotle, Const, of Athena, xii. 2.

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

rfpdfjLfiaaLV iprjfjLov^ rod ôtjOovvto^ ^X^'^' ainwvi/c Twv ^K6r)v(x)v, he /Jbivcov koI ap)(a)v koI

7ro\tT€v6fji€vo<; iSpvcre xal KaTearrjaev eh a<TâXe<i4 Tr)v irdXiTeiav. en B' i/ceivq) fiev ovBe [leWovraKcoXvaat irpoataOofieva) YieiaiarpaTov vTrrjpêv,

aXV r^TTTjOif] avvi(7rafi6vr]<; t^9 TvpavvuBo^' ovto^ 111

Be âdLkeiav laxôvaav eK ttoXXcov xP^v^v 7]B7)

KoX Kparovaav eêâXe kol KareXvcrev, aperrjv

fiev L(Tr)v Kot irpoaupeaiv ojioiav irapaaxoixevo';,

rvxv Be Kol Bwajxei TeXeaiovpyo) irpo^ rrjv

aperrjv ^yor^ca/xei/o?.

IV. T(ov fiivTOi iroXe/jLiKMV %6Xa)vi jiev ovBe ra

7r/)09 M-eyapet^; Aatjjiaxo^ 6 TlXarai,ev<; jxefxap-

TvpTjKev, &a7rep r)fxel^ BieXrjXvOa/jLev TLoTrXiKoXa^

Be Tou? fieyiaTov^ aytava^ avro<i koI fiaxofJbevo<s

KOL (TTparrjjcop /caroopdcoae. /cat firjv en Trpo^

ra? 7roXtnKa<i irpdêiî 6 fiev ev iraiBLa^ nvi

rpoTTO) KOL 7rpoa7roi7j/ia fiavia<; dvaXa^coVy virep

2 XaXa/xiVo^ epcjv irpoijXOev 6 8* avroOev dvap-

pi'yâ'iTov irepX rcov p^yicTTcov kLvBvvov eiravearr]

T€ TapKvvLOL^ KoX TTjv TTpoBocTLav iôiipaae' koX

TOV KoXacOrjvai kol firj Bia(f)vy€LV tou? 7rovrjpov<!

alTLOiTaro^ yevofjievo^ ou to, awfiara /jlovov rcav

Tvpdvvcov iê/SaXe t^9 TroXeoj?, dXXa koI ra?

eXTTtSa? iêKo^jrev, ovrco Be Tot9 Bexofievoi^;

Trpdy/juacnv dyoiva koX Ov/jlov koX avTiraîv

epp(OfjL€vco<i zeal drevco<; diravrrjaaî, en jBeXnov

expô^ciTO T0I9 oixiXla^ diroXepôv koL 7reiOov<i

572

^^^* ine/»i

SOLON AND PUBLICOLA, iii. 3-iv. 2

inscribed on wooden tables and destitute of a

defender, and departed from Athens; whereas

Pubhcola, by remaining in the city, serving as

consul, and busying himself with public affairs,

firmly and safely established his form of government.And further, though Solon knew beforehand of the

designs of Peisistratus, he was not able to hinder

them, but yielded to his tyranny in its incipiency ;

whereas Publicola subverted and drove out a kingly

power which was strong with the might which manyages bring. Thus, while exhibiting virtues equal to

Solon's, and a purpose identical with his, he enjoyeda good fortune and an efficacious power which

supplemented his virtues.

IV. When we consider their military careers,

moreover, Daimachus of Plataea does not allow Soloneven the conduct of the war against the Megarians,as we have described it ;

^ but Publicola, fighting and

commanding in person, brought the greatest strugglesto a successful issue. And still further, comparingtheir political activities, Solon, in play, so to speak,and counterfeiting madness, went forth to })lead for

the recovery of Salamis ; but Publicola, without anysubterfuges, ran the greatest risks, set himself in

opposition to the party of the Tarquins, and detectedtheir treachery. Then, after being mainly instru-

mental in the capture and punishment of the

traitors, he not only drove the tyrants themselvesfrom the city, but extirpated their very hopes of

return. And if he thus sturdily and resolutelyconfronted situations which called for active and

spirited opposition, still better did he deal with thosewhich required peaceable intercourse and gentle

*Solotif viii. ; ct Ariatotle, Cotist. 0/ Athens, xiv. 1.

573

h

PLUTARCH'S LIVES

v7reLK0V(Tr}<i Seo//.eyo£<?, Tiopalvav afiaxov avZpaKal (pofiepbv ififieXco^ irpoaajayo/jievo^ /cal puera-

3 KaLTOt,(f)7]<T6i Ti9 ivravOa rov fiev "loXcova

7rpo€/jLevoL<; avaXaêlv *A6r)vaLoi<; 'âXapîva, tov

Be UorrXiKoXav ^9 i/€6KTi]VT0 *Pa)//,atot ')(^copa<;

aiTOcnrivai. hel Be irpof; tov<; VTroKeipbevov^

Kaipoi)^ ra^ irpdêi^ Oewpelv, ttolklKo^ yap cov

6 itoXltiko^; o§ rpOTTCO tcov ovtcov eKaarov evXrj-TTTov ecFTL pLeTaêipLcreraiy^ /cat pL€pov<; d(j)e<Tei

TToXXcLKL^ eacocre ro irdv koX puKpSyv aTrofrra?

4 pieiôvwv €TVX€V, (ocnrep eKelvo^ 6 dvrjp Tore t%pev dXXoTpia<i 'xôipa^ dTroard'; eaaxre rrjv eavTov

fieâicd^ cLTracraVy oU 8' "^v pueya rrjv iroXiv

Bia^vXdâi irpoaeKTrjaaro ro rcov iroXiopicovvTwv

(TrparoTreSov, eTrirpeyfra^; Be rw iroXepbitp Bi/caa-rrj

yevecrOai, koX irepiyevopievo^ rfj Bi/cj), irpoaeXaêvoaa Bovra'; dyairrjrov rjv vcKrjaar koI yap tov

TToXefJLOv BieXvae Kal rrjv irapacTKevrjv tov TroXe-

pLOV KareXLTTCV avTOL<i Bia iriarLV dperrj^; koI

KaXoKayaOia^t rjv 6 cip^cov virep aTravrcov

iveTTolrjaev avrw,

1neraxeipta-erai with two Paris MSS., Corags, and Bekker:

fiiTaxîpi<ya-ff0au

574

SOLON AND PUBLICOLA, iv. 2-4

persuasion, as when he tactfully won over Porsena,

an invincible and formidable foe, and made him a

friend of Rome.But here, perhaps, some one will say that Solon

won back Salamis for the Athenians when they had

given it up, whereas Publicola relinquished territory

which the Romans had acquired. But we must view

men's actions in the light of the times which call

them forth. The subtle statesman will handle each

issue that arises in the most feasible manner, and

often saves the whole by relinquishing a part, and

by yielding small advantages secures greater ones.

And so Publicola, in that instance, by yielding the

territory which belonged to others, saved all that

was assuredly his own, and procured besides, for

those who were hard put to it to save their city, the

camp of their besiegers with all its stores. He madehis adversary judge in the controversy, won his case,

and received besides what his people would gladlyhave given for the victory. For Porsena put a

stop to the war, and left the Romans all his

provisions for carrying it on, owing to the confidence

in their virtue and nobility with which their consul

had inspired him.

575

A PARTIAL DICTIONARY OFPROPER NAMES

Abantes, 11, a people of Euboea Inthe Homeric period.

Adrastus, 67, king of Argos, andleader of the

" Seven againstThebes."

Acilius, Cains, 159, interpreter inthe Roman senate for theAthenian embassy of 155 B.O.

(Cato Major, xxii. 4), autlior of ahistory of Rome from tlie earliest

to his own time.

Aeacus, 21, a mythical king of

AcRina, after death one of thejudges in Hades.

Agnus. 27, an Attic township N.E.of Athens.

Alba, 97, a very ancient town of

Latium, on the Alban lake, sometwelve miles S.E. of Rome.

Alcman, 291, a Lydian of Sardis,who came in his youth to Sparta,and became the founder of Dorianlyric poetry. He flourished in

the latter half of the seventhcentury B.C.

Alcmene, 17, vrife of Amphitryonof Thebes, and mother of Heraclesby Zeus.

Anacharsis, 415, a Scythian, whotravelled extensively in pursuitof knowledge (Herod, iv. 76 f).

Anaximenes, the orator, 527, of

Lampsacus, a pupil of Diogenesthe Cynic, active at Athens asrhetorician and historian in thelatter half of the fourth centuryB.C.

Androgeos, 29, son of Minos theking of Crete.

Andron of Halicarnassus, 57, agenealogical writer of the fourth

century b.o.

Androtion, 443, active In the

political life of Athens from 376to 346 B.C. In old age and exile

he wrote an Atthis, or History of

Attica, which was much read.

Antias, Valerius, 131, 381, a Romanhistorian who flourished in theearlier part of the first centuryB.C. His history extended fromthe earliest times down to thoseof Sulla, and was much used byboth Livy and Plutarch.

Antigonu.s, 141, probably the

general of Alexander who wasafterwards king of Asia, surnamedthe One-eyed.

Antigonns, 143, author of a Historyof Italy, li Greek, probably in

the lattflr part of the third

century B.C.

Antimachus, of Teos. 121, an earlyepic poet. Two poems of the

epic cycle, the Thebais, and the

Epigoni, went under his name.Antisthenes the Socratic, 301, a

pupil of Gorgias and friend ofSocrates.

Aphidnae, 76, an ancient Attic

township, about fifteen milesN.W. of Athens.

Apollodorus, 205, a learned gram-marian of Athens in the latter

part of the second century B.C.

A treatise of his on mythology, the

Bibliotheca, has come down to us.

ApoUothemis, 303, mentioned onlyhere.

Archilochus, 11, 319, of Paros, oneof the earliest Ionian lyric poets,flourishing in 650 B.C.

Ardettus, 63, a liill In the S.E.suburbs of Athens.

Ariadne, 37, daughter of Minos andfasiphae, ol Creto

577

DICTIONARY OF PROPER NAMES

Aristocrates, 217, 303, known onlyas the author of an antiquarianand historical work on Sparta,

f)robablyof the early Roman

mperial period.Aristomenes, 169, the Messenlan

hero of the second war betweenMesseoia and Sparta (685-668B.C.).

Aristoxenns^ 303, of Tarentum, aGreek writer on philosophy andmusic, a pupil of Aristotle,flourishing in 330 B.O. Parts ofhis works on Harmony andRhythm have come down to us.

Athenodorus, son of Sandon, 549,of Tarsus, a Stoic philosopher longresident at Rome, and muchesteemed by Augustus.

B

Bion, 69, of Proconnesns, a com-piler of mythical history, ofuncertain date, not earUer thanthe fourth century B.O.

BotJdromion, the third month in theAttic calendar, correspondingnearly to our September.

Brasidas, 283, the greatest Spartanhero of the Peloponnesian war.His death at Amphipolis is

described by Thucydides in v. 10.

Brauron, 429, an ancient city onthe eastern coast of Attica.

Busiris, 23, a mythical Egyptianking, who sacrificed all foreignersthat entered his country.

Butas, 159, probably the freedmanof Cato the Younger (Plutarch,Cato Minor. Ixx.), known as awriter only from this mention ofius work.

Camerla, 167, an ancient city of

Latium, the site of wliich is

unknown.Cephisus, 23, a river flo^ving through

, the plain west of Athens.Chaeroneia, 65, a town on the

northern confines of Boeotia.

Chalcis, 63, the chief town of

Euboea, on the straits of theEuriyus.

Chrysa, 83, apparently a district

of Athens at the foot of the Pnyxhill : but there are no otherallusions to it.

Cirrha, 429, a town on the Ck)rin-

thian gulf, serving as the sea-

port of Delphi.Cleidemiis, 39, 63, the oldest

annalist of Athens, circa 420-350B.C.

Clodius, 307, a Roman chrono-grapher, otherwise unlcnown.

Codrus, 405, the last king of Athens,who, according to tradition,sacrificed himself for his country.

Colchis, 67, a district on the easternshore of the Euxine sea.

CoUas, Cape, 423, about three milesto the south-east of the ancientharbour of Phalerum.

Creophylus, 215, one of the earliest

epic poets of Greece, said to havebeen a native of Chios, and arelative of Homer. The epicpoem Oechalia was attributed tohim.

Cromrayon, Crommyonia,- 19, avillage and district on the Isthmusof Corinth.

Cyehreus, 21, a mythical king of

Salamis, receiving hero worsliip.Cycnus, 23, a mytliicai son of Ares,

slain by Heracles in Thessaly.

Daedalus, 39, the mythical "cun-ning artificer

"of Athens, who

took refuge with king Minos of

Crete, for whom he built theLabyrinth. He was the fatherof Icarus.

Daimachus of Plataea, 573, a Greekhistorian active in the latter partof the fourth century B.C., autliorof a work on India.

Deidameia. 69, wife of Peirithotis,commonly called Hippodameia.

Deinon, 37, 51, one of the annalistsof Athens, contemporary withPiiilocliorus (306-260 B.C.).

578


i]

1°

mades, 451, a prominent oratorand statesman at Athens in thetimes of Philip, Alexander, andAntipater ; a member of tlie

Macedonian party.Demetrius the I'lialerean, 277, 467,

regent at Athens for Cassander317-307 B.C., a voluminous writeron history, politics, poetry, andphilosophy.

Dicaearchus, 45, a celebrated Peri-

patetic philosopher, a disciple ofAristotle and a friend of Theo-phrastus.

Didymus, 405, the celebratedAlexandrian grammarian, of thetime of Augustus.

Dieutycliidas, 207, perhaps Dieu-chidas is meant, a Meparianchronicler, of the fourth centuryB.C.

Diodes of Peparethus, 97, 113, an

sjotherwise almost unknown Greekwriter, whom Plutarch regardsas a source for Fabius Pictor.iodorus the Topographer (or

Periegete), 85, was probably anAthenian, and flourished at andafter the time of Alexander theGreat (330-300 B.C.). He wrotea work on the townships of

Attica, and one on its monu-ments.

Diogenes, 301, probably Diogenesthe Babylonian is meant, thehead of the Stoic school at Athens,and one of the Athenian embassyto Rome in 155 B.C. He wrotea treatise on Laws.

Dionysius, 459, the Elder, tvrant ofc Syracuse 405-367 B.C.

Dionysius, 139, of Halicamassua,went to Rome about 29 B.C.,where he remained for twenty-two years, collecting materialsfor his great work on the anti-

quities and history of Rome.Dioscorides (or Dioscurides), 237,a pupil of Isocrates, writing inthe latter part of the fourthcentury B.C.

Draco, 449. one of the "thes-mothetai, or six legislativearchons at Atlxens, in 621 b.o.

Eleusls, 21, a city some twelve mileswest of Athens, the seat of thecelebrated mysteries.

Eleutherae, 69, a mountain fastnessbetween Eleusis and Boeotia.

Epicharmus the comic poet, 335,542, born on the island of Cos,about 540 B.C., but early takento Megara In Sicily, and from484 to 450 B.O. one of the orna-ments of the court of Hiero ofSyracuse.

Epidauria, 17, between Troezen,on the N.E. cost of Peloponnesus,and the Isthmus of Corinth.

Eratosthenes, 205, of Cyrene,276-196 B.C., a learned geographerand mathematician, for manyyears librarian at Alexandria.

Ereehtheus, 39, a mytliical king ofAthens.

Eurytus, 19, a mythical Idng of theThessalian city of Oechalia.

Evander, 125, the reputed leaderof a colony from Arcadia intoItaly, some sixty years beforethe Trojan war.

Gabii, 103, one of the oldest citiesof Latium, about twelve milesS.E. of Rome ; probably anearlier colony from Alba thanRome.

Gargettus, 27, an Attic townshipN.E, of Athens.

Gymnosophists, 217, the nakedphilosophers of India. See Plu-tarch's Alexander, Lxiv,

Hecataeus the Sophist, 267, of

Abdera, a learned philosopher,critic, and grammarian, contem-porary with the first Ptolemy(324-283 B.C.).

Hecatombaeon, the first month ofthe Attic calendar, correspondingceaxly to our July.

579


Hellanicns, 33, of Lesbos, thegreatest of the Greek chroniclers,480-395 (?) B.C.

Heracleides Ponticus, 405, 467, socalled from his birth in Heracleiaof Pontus, a pupil of Plato andAristotle, and a learned andvoluminous writer on almost all

possible subjects. Cicero tlioughthim superstitious and uncritical.

Heracleitus, 183, of Ephesus, aphilosoplier of the Ionian school,who flourished in the latter partof the sixth century B.C.

Hereas the Megarian, 41, 77, 429,known only through Plutarch'scitations.

Hermippus, 279, 407, of Smyrna, adistinguished philosopher andbiographer, active in the secondhalf of the third century B.C.

Herodorus, 59, of Heracleia in

Pontus, flourished in the latter

half of the sixth century B.C.,and was the author of an extendedwork on the mjiihology and wor-ship of Heracles.

Hippias the Sophist, 277, 309, anative of Elis, and a contem-porary of Socrates. Two dia-

logues of Plato bear Ills name.Hippocrates, 409, of Chios, aPythagorean philosopher, flourish-

ing in the middle of the fifth

century B.C., and chiefly famousas a mathematician.

Hippodameia, 17, daughter of

Oenomaiis, and wife of Pelops.

Idas, 71, a Messenian hero, In-

separable from his brother, thekeen-eyed Lynceus, with whomhe took part in the Argonauticexpedition and the Calydonianboar hunt.

Ides, the fifteenth day of theRoman month (the thirteenth of

March, May, July, and October).Ion of Ciiios, 41, a popular poet

at Athens between 452 and 421B.C., also author of a prose workentitled

"Sojourns," in which he

recounted his experiences withfamous men of the day.

Ister, 79, of Cyrene, a Greek his-

torian flourishing between 250and 230 £.0.

Juba, 131, 331, 353, Juba II., kingof Mauritania. He lived from50 B.C. to about 20 A.D., waseducated at Rome, and becamea learned and voluminous writer.

Among his works was a Historyof Rome.

Lapithae, 67, a mountain tribe of

Thessaly.Laurentum, 165, the ancient capital

of Latium, on the sea-coast, aboutsixteen miles S.W. of Rome.

Lavinium, 163, an ancient city of

Latium, about seventeen mUesS.W. of Rome.

Lyceium, 63, in historic times agymnasium in the eastern suburbsof Athens.

Lynceus, 71, see Idas.

MMantinea, 353, one of the most

ancient and powerful towns inArcadia.

MeUcertes, 57, a legendary per-sonage, son of Athamas and Inoand, after his death by drowning,a beneficent sea deity.

Melit6, 429, a deme, or ward, of thecity of Athens, comprising thehill-region west of the acropolis.

Menecrates, 59, other%vise unknown.Metellus, Quintus, 117, probably

the consul of 60 B.C. His fatherhad been consul in 93 B.C.

Molpadia, 63, an Amazon who wassaid to have slain Antiope. Shewas herself slain by Theseus, andher tomb was shown at Athexw

(Pausanias^ i. 2, 1).

?8'


Munychion, the tenth month of theAttic calendar, correspondingnearly to our April.

Museum, 63, one of three hills tothe S.W. of the acropoUs atAthens.

N

Kaxoa, 41, the largest of the Cy-clades islands, half way betweenAttica and Asia Minor.

Nones, the ninth day of the Romanmonth (the seventh of March,May, July, and October).

Oechalla, 19, see Eurytus.OmphaI6, 15, a mythical ciueen of

Lydia.

Paeon the Amathusian, 43, other-wise unknown.

Palladium, 63, a sacred precinct,evidently near Ardettus, in theS.E. suburbs of Athens. Inhistorical times the "

ephetai"

eat here to try cases of involun-tary homicide.

Pallen6, 27, an Attic township N.E.of Athens.

Parrhasius, 11, a celebrated painter,a native of Ephesus, but residentat Athens, flourishing in 400 B.C.

Pasiphae, 37. wife of Minos, andmother of Ariadne and theMinotaur.

Pataecus, 419, otherwise unknown.Peirithoiis, 41, king of the Lapithae,

a mountain tribe of Thessaly.Peisistratus, 41, became tyrant oiAthens In 560 B.C.

Peleus, 21, mythical king of theMyrmidons of Thessaly, fatherof Achilles.

Pelops, 17, a mjrthical king of Elisin Peloponnesus, husband of

Hippodameia.Periander, 413, tyrant of Corinth

625-585 B.C., one of the SevenWise Men.

Phalerum, 35, the ancient harbourof Athens, before Themistoclesfortified Peiraeus.

Phanias the Lesbian, 437, of Eresos,the most distinguished pupil ofAristotle after Theophrastus, aproUflc writer on philosophy andhistory, an historical romancer.

Pherecydes, 37, of Leros, one of theGreek logographers, who livedat Athens, and died about 400B.C.

Philochorus, 29, 85, the mostcelebrated writer on the anti-

quities of Athens, 306-260 B.C.

Philostephanus, 277, of Cyrene,an Alexandrian historian andgeographer, who was flourisliingin 250 B.C.

Phlya, 433, a township in theeastern part of Attica.

Pictor, Fabius, 97, 113, the earliestKoman annalist, flourishing inthe latter part of the third

century B.C.

Plutus, 233, the god of wealth.Pnyx, 61, tkat one of the three

hills to the S.W. of the acropolisof Athens on which the people'sassembly was held.

Polyzelus the Rhodian, 447, anhistorian of uncertain date.

Promathion, 97, otherwise unknown.Pyanepsion, the fourth month of

the Attic calendar, correspondingnearly to oui October.

Rhadamanthus, 33, a brother ofMinos king of Crete, and like

him a judge in the under world.

Samothrace, 353, a large Island Inthe northern Aegean sea, aboutforty miles south of the Thraciancoast.

Scyros, 81, an Island east of Euboea.Seiiniis, 269, a Greek city on the

Bouthern coast of Sicily.

i^


Silanio, 11, a famous Athenianstatuary in bronze, flourishing in320 B.C.

Simonides, 21, 35, of Ceos, thegreatest lyric poet of Greece,556-467 B.C.

Simylus tlie poet, 143, otherwiseunknown.

Sosibius, 281, a distinguishedLacedaemonian grammarian,flourishing about 250 B.C.

Spendon the Spartan, 291, otherwiseunknown.

Sphaerus, 221, a Stoic philosopherwho lived at Alexandria andSparta, and flourished early Inthe third century B.C.

Sphettus, 27, a township In theeastern part of Attica.

Stratonicus, 299, probably thefamous Athenian musician of thetime of Alexander the Great.

Sulla, Sextius, the Carthaginian,133, otherwise unknown.

Tegea, 73, an ancient city insouthern Arcadia.

Telamon, 21, a mythical king of

Salamis, son of Aeacus, father of

Aias.

Termerus, 23. a mythical highway-man slain by Heracles.

Terpander, 291, of Lesbos, fatherof Greek music and lyric poetry,who taught at Sparta during theseventh century B.C.

Thalea, 409, 411, 417, of Miletus,the most celebrated Ionian

philosopher, one of the SevenWise Men, flourishing in the sixth

century b.o.

Thales (or Thaletas), 213, a Cretanmusician and poet, who wasflourishing about 680 B.C.

Timaeus, 205, 303, of Tauromenium,a famous liistorian of Sicily,352-256 B.C.

Timon the Phliasian, 333, a nativeof Phlius in N.E. Peloponnesus,composed satirical poems onearlier and current systems of

philosophy (320-230 B.C.).

Trachis, 71, a city of Malls, com-manding the approach to Ther-mopylae.

Troezen, 7, a city on the N.E. coastof Peloponnesus.

Tyrtaeus, 225, a poet who flourishedat Sparta during the secondMessenian war (685-668 B.C.).

Valerias, 131, Fee Antias.

Varro, 121, M. Terentius,"the

most learned of the Romans,"an intimate friend of Cicero,whose political principles heshared (116-28 B.C.).

Veil, 169, an ancient and powerfulcity of Etruria, about twelvemiles north of Home.

Zeno, 301, probably the Stoic

philosopher is meant, who taughtat Athens in the third centuryB.C., and wrote on law andgovernment.

Zenodotus of Troezen, 131, referredto by Dionysius Hal. (ii. 49) a?author of a history of Umbria.

Pkistbd Df Great Britain bt Riohaed Ci.at

BosaAT, Suffolk.

iND CoKPAWT, Ltd.,

I

THE LOEB CLASSICALLIBRARY

VOLUMES ALREADY PUBLISHED

Latin AuthorsAmmianus Marcellinus. Translated by J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols.

(3rd Imp., revised.)Apui^eius: The Golden Ass (Metamobphoses). W. Adling-

ton (1566). Revised by S. Gaselee. (,Sth Imp.)S. Augustine: City of God. 7 Vols. Vol. I. G. E.McCracken.

St. Augustine, Confessions of. W. Watts (1631). 2 Vols.

(Vol. I. 1th Imp., Vol. II. eth Imp.)St. Augustine, Select Letters. J. H. Baxter. (2nd Imp.)AusoNius. H. G. Evelyn White. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.)Bede. J. E. King. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.)BoETiiius: Tracts and De Consolations Philosophiae.

Rev. H. F. Stewart and E. K. Rand. (6th Imp.)Caesar: Alexandrian, African and Spanish Wars. A. G.

Way.Caesar: Civil Wars. A. G. Peskett. (6^;^ Imp )

Caesar: Gallic War. H. J. Edwards, (llth Imp.)Cato: De Re Rustica; Varbo: De Re Rustica. H. B. Ashand W. D. Hooper. (Srd Imp.)

Catullus. F. W. Cornish; Tibullus. J. B. Postgate; Per-vigilium Veneris. J. W. Mackail. (I3th Imp.)

Celsus: De Medicina. W. G. Spencer. 3 Vols. (Vol. I.

drd Imp. revised. Vols. II. and III. 2nd Imp.)Cicero: Brutus, and Orator. G. L. Hendrickson and H. M.

Hubbell. (3rd Imp.)[Cicero]: Ad Herennium. H. Caplan.Cicero: de Fato; Paradoxa Stoicorum; De Partitione

Oratoria. H. Rackham (With De Oratore. Vol. II.)

(2nd Imp.)Cicero: De Finibus. H. Rackham. (Uh Imp. revised.)

Cicero : De Inventions, etc. H. M. Hubbell.Cicero: De Natura Deobum and Academica. H. Rackham.

(3rd Imp.)Cicebo: De OFFicns. Walter Miller. (Ith Imp.)Cicero: De Oratore. 2 Vols. E. W. Sutton and H. Rack-ham. (2nd Imp.)

Cicero: De Repubuca and De Legibus ; Somnium Scipionis.

Clinton W. Keyes. (4:th Imp.)Cicebo : De Senectute, De Amicitia, De Divinatione.W. A. Falconer. (6th Imp.)

Cicebo : In Catilinam, Pbo Placco, Pbo Mubena, Peo Sutxa.Louis E. Lord. (3rd Imp, revised.)

I

CiCEBO: Letters to Atticus. E. O. Winstedt. 3 Vols.

(Vol. I. 1th Imp., Vols. II. and III. 4th Imp.)Cicero: Letters to His Friends. W. Glynn Williams. 3

Vols. (Vols. I. and II. 4th Imp., Vol. III. 2nd Imp. revised.)Cicero: Philippics. W. C. A. Ker. {4th Imp. revised.)Cicero: Pro Archia, Post Reditum, De Domo, Db Harus-picuM Responsis, Pro Plancio. N. H. Watts. (3rd Imp.)

Cicero: Pro Caecina, Pro Lege ]\Ianilia, Pro Cluentio,Pro Rabirio. H. Grose Hodge. (3rd Imp.)

Cicero: Pro Caelio, De Provinciis Consitlaribus. ProBalbo. R. Gardner.

Cicero : Pro Milone, In Pisonem, Pro Scauro, Pro Fonteio.Pro Rabirio Posttjmo, Pro Marcello, Pro Ligario, ProRege Deiotaro. N. H. Watts. {3rd Imp.)

Cicero: Pro Quinctio, Pro Roscio Amerino, Pro RoscioComoedo, Contra Ruixum. J. H. Freese. {3rd Imp.)

Cicero: Pro Sestio, In Vatinitjm. R. Gardner.Cicero: Tusculan Disputations. J. E. King. {4th Imp.)Cicero : Verrine Orations. L. H. G. Greenwood. 2 Vols.

(Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vol. II. 2nd Imp.)Claudian. M. Platnauer. 2 Vols. {2nd Imp.)Columella: Db Re Rustica. De Arboribus. H. B. Ash,

E. S. Forster and E. Heffner. 3 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd Imp.)CuRTius, Q.: History ov Alexander. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols.

{2nd Imp.)Florus. E. S. Forst«r and Cornelius Nepos. J. C. Rolfe.

(2nd Imp.)Frontinus : Stratagems and Aqueducts. C. E. Bennett andM. B. McElwain. (2nd Imp.)

Fronto: Correspondence. C. R. Haines. 2 Vols. {3rd

Imp.)Gellius, J. C. Rolfe. 3 Vols. (Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vols. II. and

III. 2nd Imp.)Horace: Odes and Epodes. C. E. Bennett. (14th Imp.

revised.)Horace: Satires, Epistles, Ars Poetica. H. R. Fairclough.

(Qth Imp. revised.)Jerome: Selected Letters. F. A. Wright. {2nd Imp.)Juvenal, and Persius. G. G. Ramsay. (8th Imp.)LiVY. B. O. Foster, F. G. Moore, Evan T. Sage, and A. C.

Schlesinger and R. M. Geer (General Index). 14 Vols. (Vol.I. 5th Imp., Vol. V. 4th Imp., Vols. II.-IV., VI. and VII.,IX.-XII. 3rd Imp., Vol. VIII., 2nd Imp. revised.)

Lucan. J. D. Duff. (4th Imp.)Lucretius. W. H. D. Rouse. (1th Imp. revised.)Martial. W. C. A. Ker. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 6th Imp., Vol. II.

4t}i Imp. revised.)Minor Latin Poets: from Publiuus Syrus to RutiliusNamatianus, including Grattius, Calpurnius Sicui.us,

Nemesianus, Avianus, and others with " Aetna " and the"Phoenix." J. Wight Duff and Arnold M. Duff. (3rd

Imp.)

2

{1th Imp.)(Vol. I. Wih

A. L. Wheeler. {Uh Imp.)

Ovid: The Art of Love and Other Poems. J. H. Mozley.{4tth Imp.)

Ovid: Fasti. Sir James G. Frazer. (2nd Imp.)Ovid: Heroides and Amores. Grant Showerman.Ovid: Metamorphoses. F. J. Miller. 2 Vols.

Imp., Vol. II. \Oth Imp.)Ovid : Tristia and Ex Ponto.Persius. Cf. Juvenal.Petronius. M. Heseltine, Seneca Apocolooyntosis.W. H. D. Rouse, {^th Imp. revised.)

Platttus. Paul Nixon, o Vols. (Vol. I. 6^^ Imp., II. 5th Imp.,III. Uh Imp., IV. and V. 2nd Imp.)

Pliny: Letters. Melmoth's Translation revised by W. M. L.Hutchinson. 2 Vols. {1th Imp.)

Pliny: Natural History. H. Rackham and W. H. S. Jones.10 Vols. Vols. I.-V. and IX. H. Rackham. Vols. VI. andVII. W. H. S. Jones. (Vol. I. Uh Imp., Vols. II. and III.

3rd Imp., Vol. IV. 2nd Imp.)Propertius. H. E. Butler. {1th Imp.)Prudentius. H. J. Thomson. 2 Vols.

QuiNTiLiAN. H. E. Butler. 4 Vols. (Vols. I. and IV. UhImp., Vols. II. and III. Zrd Imp.)

Remains of Old Latin. E. H. Warmington. 4 vols. Vol. I.

(Ennius and Caecilius.) Vol. II. (Livius, Naevius,Pacuvius, Accius.) Vol. III. (Lucilius and Laws of XIITables.) {2nd Imp.) (Archaic Inscpiptions.)

Sallust. J. C. Rolfe. {Uh Imp. revised.)Scriptores Historiae Augustae. D. Magie. 3 Vols. (Vol. I.

3rd Imp. revised. Vols. II. and III. 2nd Imp.)Seneca: Apocolooyntosis. Cf. Petronius.Seneca: Epistulae Morales. R. M. Gummere. 3 Vols.

(Vol. I. Uh Imp., Vols. II. and III. 3rd Imp.)Seneca: Moral Essays. J. W. Basore. 3 Vols. (Vol. II.

Uh Imp., Vols. I. and III. 2nd Imp. revised.)Seneca: Tragedies. F. J. Miller. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. Uh Imp.

Vol. II. 3rd Imp. revised.)SiDONius: Poems and Letters. W. B. Anderson. 2 Vols.

(Vol. I. 2nd Imp.)SiLius Italicus. J. D. Duff. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd Imp.

Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)Statius. J. H. Mozley. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.)Suetonius. J. C. Rolfe. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 1th Imp., Vol. II.

^th Imp. revised.)Tacitus: Dialogues. Sir Wm. Peterson. Aqricola andGermania. Maurice Hutton. {1th Imp.)

Tacitus: Histories and Annals. C. H. Moore and J. Jackson.4 Vols.. (Vols. I. andll. 4f/i/mp. Vols. III. and IV. 3rd /mp.)

Terence. John Sargeaunt. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. %th Imp., Vol.II. 1th Imp.)

Tertullian: Apologia and De Spectaculis. T. R. Glover.MiNUcius Felix. G. H. Rendall. (2nd Imp.)

Valerius Flaccus. J. H. Mozley. (3rd Imp. revised.)

3

Varbo: Db Lingua Latina. R. G. Kent. 2 Vols. (3rd Imp.revised.)

Velleius Paterctjlus and Res Gestae Divi Auousti. F. W.Shipley. {2nd Imp.)

ViBGiL. H. R. Fairclough. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. I9th Imp., Vol. II.

14^/i Imp. revised.)ViTBtrvius: De Architectuka. F. Granger. 2 Vols. (Vol.1.

3rd Imp., Vol. II. 2nd Imp.)

Greek AuthorsAcHTLLES Tatius. S. Gaselee. {2nd Imp.)Aelian : On the Nature of Animals. 3 Vols. Vols. I. and II.

A. F. Scholfield.

Aeneas Tacticus, Asclepiodotus and Onasander. TheIllinois Greek Club. {2nd Imp.)

Aeschines. C. D. Adams. (3rd Imp.)Aeschylus. H. Weir Smyth. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 7th Imp., Vol.

II. Qth Imp. revised.)

Alciphron, Aelian, Philostratus Letters. A. R. Bennerand F. H. Fobes.

Andocides, Antiphon, Cf. Minor Attic Orators.Apollodorus. Sir James G. Frazer. 2 Vols. (3rd Imp.)Apollonius Rhodius. R. C. Seaton. {5th Imp.)The Apostolic Fathers. Kirsopp Lake. 2 Vols. (Vol. I.

Sth Imp., Vol. II. 6th Imp.)Appian: Roman History. Horace White. 4 Vols. (Vol. I.

ith Imp., Vols. II.-IV. 3rd Imp.)Aratus. Cf. Callimachus.Aristophanes. Benjamin Bickley Rogers. 3 Vols. Verse

trans. {5th Imp.)Aristotle: Art of Rhetoric. J. H. Freese. (3rd Imp.)Aristotle: Athenian Constitution, Eudemian Ethics,

Vices and Virtues. H. Rackham. (3rd Imp.)Aristotle: Generation of Animals. A. L. Peck. (2rtd

Imp.)Aristotle: Metaphysics. H. Tredennick. 2 Vols, {ith Imp.)Aristotle: Meteorologica. H. D. P. Lee.Aristotle: Minor Works. W. S. Hett. On Colours, OnThings Heard, On Physiognomies, On Plants, On Marvellous

Things Heard, Mechanical Problems, On Indivisible Lines,On Situations and Names of Winds, On Mellissus, Xenophanes,and Gorgias. (2nd Imp.)

Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics. H. Rackham. {6th Imp.revised.)

Aristotle: Oeconomica and Magna Moralia. G. C. Arm-strong; (with Metaphysics, Vol. II.). {Uh Imp.)

Aristotle: On the Heavens. W. K. C. Gutlirie. (3rd Imp.revised.

)

Aristotle: On the Soul, Parva Naturalia, On Breath.W. S. Hett. {2tvd Imp. revised.)

Abistotle: Okganon—Categories, On Interpretation, Prior

Analytics. H. P. Cooke and H. Tredennick. (3rd Imp.)Akistotle: Obganon—Posterior Analytics, Topics. H. Tre-

dennick and E. S. Forster.

Aristotle : Organon—On Sophistical Refutations.

On Coming to be and Passing Away, On the Cosmos. E, S.

Forster and D. J. Furley.Aristotle: Parts of Animals. A. L. Peck; Motion andProgression of Animals. E. S. Forster. (^th Imp. revised.)

Aristotle: Physics. Rev. P. Wicksteed and F. M. Cornford.

2 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd Imp., Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)Aristotle: Poetics and Longinus. W. Hamilton Fyfe;Demetrius on Style. W . Rhys Roberts. (5th Imp. revised.)

Aristotle: Politics. H. Rackham. {4th Imp. revised.)

Aristotle: Problems. W.S. Hett. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp. revised.)

Aristotle: Rhetorica Ad Alexandrum (with Problems.Vol. II.). H. Rackham.

Arrian: History of Alexander and Indica. Rev. E. Iliffe

Robson. 2 Vols. {3rd Imp.)Athenaeus: Deipnosophistae. C. B. Gulick. 7 Vols.

(Vols. I.-IV., VI. and VII. 2nd Imp., Vol. V. 3rd Imp.)St. Basil: Letters. R. J. Deferrari. 4 Vols. {2nd Imp.)Callimachus: Fragments. C. A. Trypanis.Callimachus, Hymns and Epigrams, and Lycophbon. A. W.

Mair; Aratus. G. R. Mair. {2nd. Imp.)Clement of Alexandria. Rev. G. W. Butterworth. {3rd Imp.)COLLUTHUS. Cf. OpPIAN.Daphnis and Chloe. Thornley's Translation revised by

J. M. Edmonds; and Parthenius. S. Gaselee. {4:th Imp.)Demosthenes I.: Olynthiacs, Philippics and Minor Ora-

tions. I.-XVII. AND XX. J. H. Vince. {2nd Imp.)Demosthenes II.: De Corona and De Falsa Legationk.

C. A. Vince and J. H. Vince. (3rd Imp. revised.)Demosthenes III.: Meidias, Androtion, Aristocrates,TiMOCRATEs and Aristoqexton, I. and II. J. H. Vince

(2nd Imp.)Demosthenes IV.-VI.: Private Orations and In Neaeram.

A. T. Murray. (Vol. IV. 3rd Imp., Vols. V. and VI. 2nd

Imp.)Demosthenes VII.: Funeral Speech, Erotic Essay, Exordiaand Letters. N. W. and N. J. DeWitt.

Dio Cassius: Roman History. E. Cary. 9 Vols. (Vols. I.

and II. 3rd Imp., Vols. III.-IX. 2nd Imp.)Dio Chrysostom. J, W. Cohoon and H. Lamar Crosby. 5 Vols.

(Vols. I.-IV. 2nd Imp.)DiODORUs SicuLUs. 12 Vols. Vols. I.-VI. C. H. Oldfather.

Vol. VII. C. L. Sherman. Vols. IX. and X. R. M. Geer.

Vol. XL F.Walton. (VoL 1. 3rd imp., Vols. II.-IV. 2nd /mp.)Diogenes Laertius. R. D. Hicks. 2 Vols. {5th Imp.).DiONYsrus of Halicarnassus : Roman Antiquities. Spel-man's translation revised by E. Cary. 7 Vols. (Vols. I.-V.

2nd Imp.)6

EpiCTETUS. W. A. Oldfather. 2 Vols. (3rd Imp.)EuEiPiDEs. A.S.Way. 4 Vols. (Vols. I.andlV. 7fA7mp., Vol.

II. Sth Imp., Vol. III. 6th Imp.) Verse trans.

EtTSEBius: Ecclesiastical History. Kirsopp Lake andJ. E. L. Oulton. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vol. II. 5th Imp.)

Galen : On the Natural Faculties. A. J. Brock, {^th Imp.)The Greek Anthology. W. R. Paton. 6 Vols. (Vols. I.-IV.

bth Imp., Vol. V. 3rd Imp.)Greek Elegy and Iambus with the Anacreontea. J. M.Edmonds. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vol. II. 2nd Imp.)

The Greek Bucolic Poets (Theocritus, Bion, Moschus).J. M. Edmonds, (lih Imp. revised.)

Greek Mathematical Works. Ivor Thomas. 2 Vols. (3rd

Imp.)Herodes. Cf . Theophrastus : Characters.Herodotus. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. Mi Imp., Vols.

II. and III. Uh Imp., Vol. IV. 3rd Imp.)Hesiod and The Homeric Hymns. H. G. Evelyn Wlute.

(1th Imp. revised aiid enlarged.)Hippocrates and the Fragments of Heracleitus. W. H. S.

Jones and E. T. Withington. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. Uh Imp.,Vols. II.-IV. 3rd imp.)

Homer: Iliad. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. (1th Imp.)Homer: Odyssey. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. (%th Imp.)IsAEUs. E. W. Forster. (3rd Imp.)IsocRATES. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols,

(2nd Imp.)St. John Damascene: Bablaam and Ioasaph. Rev. G. R.Woodward and Harold Mattingly. (3rd Imp. revised.)

JosEPHUS. H. St. J. Thackeray and Ralph Marcus. 9 Vols.

Vols. I.-VII. (Vol. V. ith Imp., Vol. VI. 3rd Imp., Vols.I.-IV.and VII. 2nd Imp.)

Julian Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols. (Vols. I. and II.

3rd Imp., Vol. III. 2nd Imp.)LuciAN. A. M. Harmon. 8 Vols. Vols. I.-V. (Vols. I. and

II. Uh Imp., Vol. III. 3rd Imp., Vols. IV. and V. 2nd Imp.)Lycophron. Cf. Callimachus.Lyra Graeca. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols. (Vol. I. bth Imp.

Vol. II revised and enlarged, and III. ith Imp.)Lysias. W. R. M. Lamb. (3rd Imp.)Manetho. W. G. Waddeil: Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. F. E.

Robbins. (3rd Imp.)Marcus Aurelius. C. R. Haines. (Uh Imp. revised.)Menander. F. G. Allinson. (3rd Imp. revised.)

Minor Attic Orators (Antiphon, Andocides, Lycurqus,Demades, Dinarchus, Hypereides). K. J. Maidment andJ. O. Burrt. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd Imp.)

NoNNOs: DiONYsiACA. W. H. D. Rouse. 3 Vols. (2nd Imp.)Oppian, CoLLUTHUS, Tryphiodorus. A. W.Mair. (2nd Imp.)Papyri. Non-Literary Selections. A. S. Hunt and C. C.

Edgar. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.) Literary Selections.

(Poetry). D. L. Page. (3rd Imp.)

Pabthenius. Cf. Daphnis and Chi<oe.Pattsanias: Descbiption of Greece. W. H. S. Jones. 5

Vols, and Companion Vol. arranged by R. E. Wycherley.(Vols. I. and III. 3rd Imp., Vols. II., IV. and V. 2nd Imp.)

PHII.O. 10 Vols. Vols. I.-V.; F. H. Colson and Rev. G. H.Whitaker Vols. VI.-IX.; F. H. Colson. (Vols. I-II., V.-VII., Zrd Imp., Vol. IV. Uh Imp., Vols. III., VIII., and IX.2nd Imp.)

Philo: two supplementary Vols. {Translation only.) RalphMarcus.

Philostratus : The Life of Appollonitts of Tyana. F. C.

Conybeare. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. Uh Imp., Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)Philostratus : Imagines; Callistbatus : Descriptioxs.

A. Fairbanks. {2nd Imp.)Philostratus and Eunapius: Lives of the Sophists.Wilmer Cave Wright. {2nd Im,p.)

Pindar. Sir J. E. Sandys, {^th Imp. revised.)Plato: Charmides, Alcibiades, Hipparchus, The Lovers,Theages, Minos and Epinomis. W. R. M. Lamb. {2ndImp.)

Plato: Cratylus, Parmenides, Greater Hippias, LesserHiPPiAS. H. N. Fowler. {Uh Imp.)

Plato: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, Phaedrcts.H. N. Fowler. (

1 \th Imp.)Plato: Laches, Protagoras, Meno, Euthydkmus. W. R. M.Lamb. {Zrd Imp. revised.)

Plato: Laws. Rev. R. G. Bury. 2 Vols, {^rd Imp.)Plato: Lysis, Symposium Gorgias. W. R. M. Lamb. {5th

Imp. revised.)

Plato: Republic. Paul Shorey. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. bih Imp.,Vol. II. Uh Imp.)

Plato: Statesman, Philebus. H. N. Fowler; Ion. W. R. M.Lamb, {^th Imp.)

Plato: Theaetetus and Sophist. H. N. Fowler. {Uh Imp.)Plato: Timaeus, Critias, Clitopho, Menexenus, Epistulae.

Rev. R. G. Bury. (3rd Imp.)Plutarch: Moralia. 14 Vols. Vols. I.-V. F. C. Babbitt.

Vol. VI. W. C. Helmbold. Vol. VII. P. H. De Lacey andB. Einarson. Vol. X. H. N. Fowler. Vol. XII. H.Cherniss and W. C. Helmbold. (Vols. I.-VI. and X. 2nd Imp.)

Plutarch: The Parallel Lives. B. Perrin. 11 Vols.

(Vols. I., II., VI., VII., and XI. 3rd Imp., Vols. III.-V. andVIII.-X. 2nd Imp.)

PoLYBius. W. R. Paton. 6 Vols. (2nd Imp.)Procopius: History of the Wars. H. B. Dewing. 7 Vols,

(Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vols. II.-VII. 2nd Imp.)Ptolemy: Tetrabiblos. Cf. Manetho.QuiNTUS Smyrnaeus. a. S. Way. Verse trans. (3rd Imp.)Sextus Empiricus. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. 'Uh

Imp., Vols. II. and III. 2nd Imp.)Sophocles. F. Storr. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. lOth Imp. Vol. II. Qth

Imp.) Verse trans.

Stbabo: Geography. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols, (Vols. I., V.,and VIII. 3rd Imp., Vols. II., III., IV., VI., and VII. 2nd Imp.)

Theophbastus : CHABACTEB3. J. M. Edmonds. Hebodes,etc. A. D. Knox. (Sri Imp.)

Theophbastus: Enquiby into Plants. Sir Arthur Hort,Bart. 2 Vols. (2?Ki Imp.)

Thtjcydides. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. bth Imp., Vols.II. and IV. Aith Imp., Vol. III., Sri Imp. revised.)

Tbyphiodobus. Cf. Oppian.Xenophon: Cybopaedia. Walter Miller. 2 Vols. (Vol. I.

Uh Imp., Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)Xenophon: Hellenica, Anabasis, Apology, and Symposium.

C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 3 Vols. (Vols. I. and III3rd Imp., Vol. II. Uh Imp.)

Xenophon : Memobabilia and Oeconomicus. E. C. Marchant(3rd Imp.)

Xenophon: Scbipta Minoea. E. C. Marchant. (3rd Imp.)

IN PREPARATION

Greek AuthorsAristotle: Histoby of Animals. A. L. Peck.Plotinus: a. H. Armstrong.

Latin AuthorsBabbius and Phaedbus. Ben E. Perry.

DESCRIPTIVE PROSPECTUS ON APPLICATION

London WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTDCambridge, Mass. HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS

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